Latest / Harder Than Life / 73: The Sober Bodybuilder w/ Brad Jensen

Transcript

73: The Sober Bodybuilder w/ Brad Jensen · Harder Than Life

• 0:00
  This episode is sponsored by National Technology Management. Visit trustntm.com for more information. I'm Kelly Siegel, and this is Harder Than Life, a podcast about self-love, self-awareness, business, and health. We tell outrageous stories and boil everything down to simple, practical advice you can start using today. Let's get living.
• 0:21
  Welcome, my loves, to the Heart of the Life podcast, where today, two non-drinking meatheads are going to talk winning and working out. Today, we have Brad Jensen, AKA the sober bodybuilder on the podcast. Brad offers my next level experience, which inspires and motivates people to level up all areas of their lives. He owns Key Nutrition and helps his clients and team members live healthy lives and how food and fitness can change your lives for the better. If you don't follow him, you must.
• 0:50
  His reels are direct, hilarious, yet incredibly truthful. Welcome, my new friend, to the Heart of the Life podcast.
• 0:58
  Thank you, brother. Appreciate having me. Stoked to be here. It's a long time coming, man. I, I, you know, the great part about social media is I get to meet cool ass people like you and you know, where else in this world would two brothers from two separate sides of this, of the country who are exactly alike, be able to fricking mix it up. So thank you. I think we're going to have fun. I think we're going to, we're going to be long, long friends. So. Yeah. Well, I already considered you a friend. I saw you were on, um,
• 1:27
  uh, a guy's podcast. I'm going on next week. And, uh, my, my girlfriend had been on his show. And then I saw a clip he posted, uh, you and I was like, Oh, that's my boy, Kelly. She goes, how do you know him? I'm like, well, I guess I don't technically, but she's like, everyone's just your boy. And I'm like, we're social media boys. Listen, we get a lot of, we got a lot of shit on Instagram for people, all the haters in the comments, both pretty jacked and, uh, we're both sober. So therefore we're boys, bro. Um,
• 1:56
  I have a bunch of questions, but I don't want to start right there because I was just looking. I try to respond to everybody, all the naysayers.
• 2:04
  Why in the heck do people feel? I got one glass this morning that I've never seen before. Like guy was pretty jacked. And he's like, you're in freaking, you're cheating. And it's like, bro, you look to be in pretty good shape. I have professional bodybuilders reaching out to me saying, dude, great job on your physique. What does that say about people that throw stones in a glass house? This guy was jacked.
• 2:31
  Like, I've been working out for 30 years, bro. 30 years I've looked like this. If I took some magic freaking steroid somewhere, I wouldn't be here still. 30 years. Yeah. Yeah, everyone wants to discount the hard work. Everyone. It's funny your reels went viral. And I grabbed some popcorn and looked at the comments one time. And I was like, I just... And I laugh because I have to laugh. And I have to laugh at the people that...
• 3:00
  you know, like to talk to shit on my, my posts. And I think you do a really good job of, you know, deploying, like just coming at it from like an empathetic state again, like going back to that Gary Vaynerchuk kind of school of thought of like, how broken are you that you took the time to comment on a rant? Like, I don't have the time to comment on little like my friends. I tried to, but little on random strangers, like, come on, man. And then to throw stones. It's just a very interesting dynamic of human behavior.
• 3:29
  I look at it. That's what harder than life is all about. I want to lift everybody up. I just, I want everybody to be as happy as I am. So if you're going to freaking take the time to yell at me, I want to know why I want to help. And I've turned a couple of people around. They're like, you know what? I was just having a bad day. I apologize. So let's start off with this. What makes you harder than life, Brad? Harder than life. It's a good question right off the bat. I'm not sure the context, but I'll tell you.
• 3:59
  I mean, so, you know, I'm, I have just over 11 years sober from everything. And it's funny, I was a drug addict, but I definitely, I definitely drank my fair share too. And to me, it's all the same. And it's funny how people will be like, oh, so do you want a drink? Like, we're out and I'm like, no, so I'm sober. And they're like, oh, like sober, sober. And I'm like, no, like kind of sober. Yes, I'm sober, sober. Like, I don't know.
• 4:22
  Like, and I know that some people are kind of sober, right? They like, you know, give up one thing and they keep doing that. And I think, I think the absolute demoralization that was my life back then has, has helped me be harder than life because life will continue to happen. In the last 11 years, I've been blessed to have success and, and have a kid and, and, you know, be a single dad and lots of cool things have happened.
• 4:51
  But it's still life is life. And the more you climb in this business game, and you're further ahead than me, is the more stress that comes with it. And I think that just this ability to be life on life, like talking about life on life's terms, it's going to just, life is going to throw you some shit sandwiches sometimes.
• 5:10
  And I think the moments of adversity that we all go through, that ultimately helps us become harder than life. And through that, too, to walk through these hard times with some grace and with some dignity and with some character, like to me, you know, that's how I become harder than life. Because life cripples a lot of people out there. You know that. I mean, probably one of those just started the brand. Life just...
• 5:31
  Life will kick other people's ass if they allow it to. And so many people makes me sad, allow life to, because we all have our shit. We all have our struggles. We all have this, you know, and so many people just succumb to it. And I'm like, I think you're missing the point of this thing called life. So...
• 5:47
  Why did you drink? I might as well documented. I wasn't, I grew up in a physically and emotionally abusive home. Didn't, didn't have any safety physically or emotionally, no love, no nothing. And I just built this tough man persona that everybody loved when Kelly, when he drank and I, I, I didn't. So the reason why I drank was because people loved me when I was drinking. What, why did you drink?
• 6:15
  I find that fascinating, actually. That's really interesting because, you know, a lot of people I know that get sober, it's because people hated them when they were drunk. But I think it's really admirable when the fun guy, when the guy who everyone's like, ah, like, because there's even more pressure. A lot of times when the dude who...
• 6:32
  is just a complete ass of himself when he drinks every time. And I'm sure there was moments for you, but like, you know, every single time that like, everyone else is actually pretty glad. They're like, oh dude, he gave it up. He put down the bottle, thank God. Like, you know, but then there's guys like you. I had some buddies who just quit drinking.
• 6:52
  And everyone loved them when they were drunk, but they didn't love themselves. And so I watched some of the peer pressure of people being like, oh, dude, you don't want to like they almost feel like they're missing out on, you know, this side of that person that they want to see. You know, I am.
• 7:08
  you know, I've always said, I don't, I don't know. I, I, I've, I've came to the conclusion that I think it was meant to be just this big battle. And that's why I've felt so, um, compelled to, to share my sobriety and be very open about it from, from pretty early on. I think I changed my handle. I was competing in bodybuilding. It was 2014. I got sober in 20 into 2012. So, um, I changed it to the sober bodybuilding and it's just stuck. I mean, I'm not a bodybuilder anymore technically, you know, but, um, uh,
• 7:38
  I had a good family. I was not like I was the youngest of five came from a good religious household. My parents didn't drink. They didn't do drugs. You know, I wasn't neglected per se. I wasn't abused. I mean, sure, we all have our dysfunctions in our family. But I was telling people, like, I became a drug addict despite all that and an alcoholic. Yeah.
• 7:58
  I was overweight growing up. And when I found the relief of, I remember I was 13 years old, I took my first drink. And of course it was peer pressure. Of course, like I was like all nervous and had a stomachache. I was like, I don't know if I should do this. And I took the drink and I remember it was whiskey. And I remember taking the drink and I thought to myself, why in the hell would adults do that? This is awful, awful. It was the worst thing I've ever tried. And about 20 minutes later, the whole world made sense. I was like, this is why they do it.
• 8:27
  And so my friends that would make fun of me at the time,
• 8:31
  They started, I became really funny when I was drunk. And so I started doing like the Chris Farley, like van down by the river skits, the Tommy boy, I would play this persona up. And I found it was much more enjoyable to have them laugh with me than laugh at me. They would make fun of me for being fat. And they, you know, they make the fat jokes. And we're 13 year old kids, they're brutal. But I noticed they all started laughing with me and thought I was funny instead of laughing at me. And so that was kind of my first experience into
• 9:00
  just checking out. And, and I just, man, I just think there's something innately different in me than, than some of those people I grew up with because I just didn't know how to stop. And it just kind of progressed. And I went through a phase of stopping when I got really into fitness, when I was 16, I got really into fitness and I was sick of losing, being fat. So I lost some weight, got in the gym. And I remember some guy at the gym told me like, Oh, be careful with the drinking. It's really bad for your muscle gains. And that's all I needed to hear. I was like, well,
• 9:30
  I was done until I wasn't until I was offered some, you know, prescription painkillers, you know, at a party about a year later. And when I took those, it was kind of game over for me. So yeah.
• 9:43
  I gotta give you props, man. You're the first person since I started this brand to peg me spot on. That was a, that is exactly what I was. I was the life of the party. Everybody loved me. What is he going to do next? I used to tell people when I drank, I was like, Hey, when I die, I want you to have a party and, and, and talk about the crazy shit Kelly did. And now I look back.
• 10:11
  And it's embarrassing. I didn't like who I was. I look in the mirror every day, even though I didn't hurt anybody. I had a driver. I was in shape. I was successful. I owned a successful IT company.
• 10:26
  just hated the guy in the mirror hated it i think the decisions i made the positions i put myself in and i just said i'm just gonna try something and i did and i loved it and i did my friends were like dude you don't have a problem have one freaking drink and i'm like no i'm good and now it's so rewarding to come home from a hard day because
• 10:50
  As you said, life still happens. I still have the same stresses. I just don't, I have the rituals and habits and tools to deal with them. Well, that doesn't require having a drink, which never solved it anyways. That's the thing that people don't realize. Taking cannabis or scrolling or swiping or drinking, you still have the same issues. And they're probably worse the next day. It's...
• 11:18
  naming it and feeling it they tend to go away so i kind of like this a lot better i don't i'm sober but i don't consider myself sober i don't drink i don't do drugs i don't do anything but i don't i just choose not to drink if i want to have one drink right now it wouldn't spiral into 50 yeah just why i'm vibrating at a level of fucking 10 why would i drop to two to have a drink to make somebody else feel comfortable
• 11:45
  You know, that's really interesting you bring that up because, you know, at this point, my sobriety, you know, so things that I kind of moved on quickly from. And again, it was for like bodybuilding is why I got into the opiates was my buddy just said, hey, dude, you can take these. The first time he offered to do this, how naive I was, he said, do you want to take these? We're going to a party. He goes, because everyone makes fun of you when you bring your muscle milks in, like everyone's drinking and I'm drinking muscle milk and, you know, ready to drink and.
• 12:12
  Um, I was like, oh no, I'm not in any pain. And he laughed his ass off and he was like, oh bro, no, they'll make you feel like you're drunk kind of, but you won't have a hangover and then we can go train back and biceps the next day. And that I was like, gone, let's do it. Um, but you know, at this point and there was intermittent times where, you know, I would, um, I would drink more heavily when I would get off the drugs and then I'd go back to the drugs and was just, just kind of bouncing back and forth between some kind of inebriation and intoxication. It didn't really matter what it was. Um,
• 12:41
  And, you know, at this point in my sobriety, people will, people have said to me, you know, like legit, very curious, not like not antagonizing and said, Hey, do you really think, cause I also kind of skipped the whole marijuana phase. Like I, I really skipped past that. Um, I didn't actually like being high on weed. I felt too giggly and weird and stupid. And, um, yeah.
• 13:03
  And if you have said to me, do you really think you couldn't have just one drink? Or do you not think you could just smoke a joint once? And I was like, you know, I don't know. I don't know. I know I probably couldn't just do heroin once. That didn't work out for me. I tried that many times.
• 13:21
  But I don't want to because of the state I'm vibrating in. And I've just gotten to be really good about dealing with life when life throws me shit storms. And there's something that's very empowering about that, about working through super stressful situations, a divorce, a lot of things where I came out the other end and I'm like, dude, I didn't have to numb out any of that.
• 13:44
  And like, I get to move on quicker because we know when we, what, and I'm sure I numbed with scrolling at times or whatever. Right. I think we all do, but I didn't go check out and it's the way I vibrate today is just, you know, I, I just, I just feel better sober. And when you can learn to have not only fun in life, but have a lot of fulfillment and passion being completely clear headed, I just don't really have the desire, you know?
• 14:12
  No, you're resonating with me something fierce because I was just, I was on another podcast. The guy asked me, he's like, how do you feel when you go out and everyone else is drinking? I said, I feel great because this is who I really am. So the person I was pretending to be, so I was on a boat with a new friends down in Florida and they looked at the people I was with and they're like, this guy has more fun than I've ever seen anybody sober. And he said, how was he drinking? They're like, you don't want to know.
• 14:43
  So having said that, when you say opiates, are you referring to the Vicodin? Yeah, that's what originally was given to me the first time was Vicodin. And then it spiraled pretty quick from that to that was during kind of the Oxycontin epidemic 2003, 2001 to 2004, there was kind of an epidemic of Oxycontin until the FDA put on really strict regulations. And
• 15:08
  uh, about, you know, the over prescribing. I mean, you know, I had a, I had a doctor that was a little bit crooked that, you know, my back hurt and he'd prescribe me oxys. And then I was getting them from a buddy too. And, and when that, when those laws changed, um, there was, it just resorted to, um, to doing heroin. And when I started using heroin, that's when, um,
• 15:29
  that's when shit got really bad. And that's when, you know, I just don't, you don't meet too many successful heroin addicts. Right. And, uh, and so I, I ran, I started doing that and that's, that's when everything started to fall apart. That's when, you know, and it took a while, like I still managed to gold gym, like being an active heroin act. I just didn't look like one. I was jacked. I would do a little in the morning. I'd do a little in the afternoon. I'd do a little before bed and, um,
• 15:55
  But that shit just progresses. And then so I would get saw, go to a rehab and I'd get sober off the heroin. And this is when I realized like, ah, you, you probably shouldn't drink too. I'd get out and then I would be like, you know what? I'm not going back to the drugs, but I'd go out to a party and I'm, I'm happy to say like today I can go to a party. I can go to a club. I can go out.
• 16:14
  And like you, it doesn't tempt me because I'm having such a good time. And like, it's funny. People will sometimes think I'm drunk. They're like, oh yeah, the guy who was drunk. And they're like, no, by the way, isn't it? Isn't the highest compliment? I was out with a big group of people and they're like, oh my God, I'm so hung over. Are you hung over? I'm like, I don't drink. And they're like.
• 16:31
  You were all over the bar last time. I go, that's what I do. That's me. I'm having a good time. I asked you that question specifically because the way that it was presented to you was the exact way that somebody handed me my first Vicodin. And I didn't have a problem with it, but the people I hung out with would hand them to me like Pez.
• 16:50
  So, and I remember it was a weightlifting buddy and he's like, take one, take half of these. You'll be able to drink way more and we'll be at the gym tomorrow. Same freaking story. This is why I say this thing. So people understand that, hey, you're no different. You're no different than anybody that started off. That's why if you're listening to this and you're a young kid and you're just getting started off and all these friends are trying to peer pressure you, man.
• 17:18
  Just don't do it. It ain't worth it. How old are you, man? 39. 39. Okay. How much do you weigh? 220. And how tall are you? 5'10 on a good day. How much do you weigh? I'm 218, but I'm 5'9 if I'm wearing heels.
• 17:43
  i'm like five ten and a half i think yeah so probably just a little little bit i got 10 years on you i'm 48 yeah it's been a it's been a minute so i always ask because you look freaking gigantic and i love it it's you look great thanks man what's your superpower bro oh sorry sorry um
• 18:03
  Oh, no, I was going to say, I appreciate that, man. And, you know, I when I competed when I first got sober and definitely in my in my in my drug and party days, I definitely have always been transparent that I used to use anabolics and even during my competing days. And it's funny nowadays, like, I mean, I was I was I have some pictures of me in between shows and.
• 18:27
  My girlfriend was like, what in the fuck? Like you were huge. And so like when I get those comments still, I'm like, hey, I'm going to take that as a compliment because, yes, I've done them, but not in quite a while. And this is just called hard work. And this is what people fail to see. Even if someone does take steroids, what they fail to understand, the keyboard warriors behind that is I know a lot of kids and dudes.
• 18:48
  I shouldn't say kids. I don't know. Like a lot of men who have taken steroids at my gym and look like complete shit because they don't eat right. They don't really train hard enough. It will exacerbate those gains if you're doing it right. But I always tell people, Mike, thanks. Thanks for coming to the party and just immediately accusing me because I made you insecure about how you look. So anyways, my superpower. I'll see you next year when you turn 40, bro. Just wait.
• 19:16
  things on you are going to hurt that you didn't know you had. You will change your lifestyle when you turn 40. I remember it was about two months after I turned 40. I'm like,
• 19:29
  butt cheeks a little sore what's what's this back feeling what is that and then I had an elbow pain for a year and I'll tell you what you got a little bit of an advantage because of the not drinking because I didn't realize how much drinking was dehydrating me and holding me back it was a full year of not drinking until all my aches and pains went away but still yeah
• 19:54
  You'll see the sores last a little longer, the being soreness of the muscles last a little bit longer, you're a little bit more stiff. Right at 40, I started having to do massive amounts of cardio because I was just gaining weight. And your body's going to change, but you'll change because that's who you are.
• 20:15
  Yeah, no, 100% do. I'm already kind of filling it with just shitty, but I did that by training just a little bit. I'm like, ooh, squats are hurting my back now. I'm like, yeah. I try not to anymore. Tell me your superpower. That's a good question, man. You know, I think that... I think that...
• 20:40
  Man, if you would ask me this just a couple years ago, I would have said like my grit and tenacity. And while I think that's a very attractive trait, I got grit tattooed on my knuckles like a degenerate. My mother said she was like, oh, you look like a degenerate. I'm like, thanks, mom. I really appreciate that. Hey, at least your mom notices you. My mom never even noticed me. If I got in the way, knock me out of the way. So.
• 21:03
  Oh, that's sad. It's a shame. Yeah, my mom's great. She's very outspoken. But I realized, you know, only gritting my life. And so I ended up getting grace on my other knuckles because I realized grit is an incredibly...
• 21:23
  attractive and it's a quality I really respect in people that are gritty and that can be tenacious, but you can't just grit your whole way through life. There has to be some times of actually just like
• 21:35
  you know, falling in love with your losses. And like, part of that is some grace to me of being like, all right, yeah. Like I lost, damn, that sucked. Like 2023 kicked my ass a little in business. I made some poor decisions, had some coaches leave that I didn't have proper contracts in place. They took all their clients. It was legal shit. And like, I took a big L in 2023, but I gave myself some grace. Like, I'm like, well, dude, X, Y, and Z got exposed and that's your fault. Like, and so now if it's your fault, I can change it too. And so I think today, um,
• 22:03
  You know, I think my adaptability and just the ability to view the glass half full. I really, really try to not, not, not, not to the point of not being real. Like, I think that you have those, you know, toxic, positive, positive people where you're just like, dude, but just be real. I can be real and say like, oh, shit really sucks right now. Like this sucks. This sucks. Super bummed about it. And it's going to be okay. And here's why. And I think just.
• 22:30
  being able to be adaptable in situations. And, and again, just, just viewing the glass half full. And that didn't just come because I woke up and made a decision one day. It came from therapy and habits and rituals and routines and, you know, connecting with what I choose to call God. And like that, through that I've become much more of a glass half full type of guy. Like what's the positive in this? What can we learn? And then move on. We'll have to introduce you to Amber Lee Lago. She was just on that. Oh, I know Amber Lee.
• 23:00
  Oh, she's true grit and grace. That's her podcast. Yeah. I was on her podcast about a year and a half ago. So she's awesome dude. And she's sober too. I love hearing these sober stories. So, uh, yeah, yeah. She was amazing. We've been in that we've been in the gym long enough. So we've seen some crazy stories. So can you share a hilarious gym story that you witnessed or experienced firsthand? Oh my gosh. There's so many. Um, you know, the gym is a funny place. Um,
• 23:27
  It's, uh, oh, there's, you know, I, I create these, uh, these characters and so many of them are based off of, uh, off of real shit I've seen or, you know, clients when I used to work with a lot more in the back in the day that, that I watched them. And, uh, but, uh, there was a, it wasn't that long ago I was, I was at the gym and, um,
• 23:49
  I mean, you know, you try like, well, nevermind. I'll be nice on that. There's just some people who like end up doing, and I try to deploy empathy, but I never know if to go correct them. Like where they're just doing something completely wrong, but there was this guy, this big gym bro. And he's, he's got the gallon jug. I ended up creating this whole character, Marty, the meathead off of him. I mean,
• 24:09
  the stringer T at all times, the big over-the-beats headphones, like two gym bags. One wasn't enough. He's got two. He's got two-gallon jugs. He's got a Pop-Tart he's eating during his workout. And he's big, but he's also kind of fat. And, you know, I grab my dumbbells, and I walk all the way back, like pretty far. I try not to stand in front of the mirror. Like a little fun fact for you guys out there. Don't, like, grab your dumbbells and stand right in front of the mirror. So I step back, and I'm pretty far back.
• 24:38
  And I'm doing my set of laterals and this guy taps me on the shoulder and I turn around and he was like, hey, bro. And so I like kind of stop and I pull out my headphone. I'm like, I help you. I was in the middle of my set and he goes, you're my gym space. You're my mirror space, bro. And I was like, wait, what? He goes, can you move? Keep in mind, the guy could have moved to the right. I didn't see him. I was pretty far back.
• 25:01
  And I was like, oh, the mirror? And he goes, yeah, bro. And I was like, all right. So I move, and he starts doing the set, and he's like, ugh, ugh. And I'm like, that was bizarre. So I finished my set, and then he goes, hey, bro, actually, on Second Thought, man, can you record me? And I was like, sure. So he hands me his phone. So I step back a little, and I'm like, okay.
• 25:21
  just like from this angle. And he goes, yeah, just do like a walk around. And I was like, okay, so I'm doing a walk around. This dude gets pissed. He throws his dumbbells down, takes his headphones off. And he's like, you're not doing it right, bro. Just give me my phone. And I was like, I don't know if to laugh or punch you, but...
• 25:37
  I was like, okay, this guy is very passionate about his filming. That just happened like two months ago. So I was, I've seen even crazier shit, but that's the most recent one on my mind. And it just goes to show like these guys are always going to be in the gym. And, um, I don't know, he's probably late twenties. I'm like, I don't know. I mean, guys like me, you've been in there 30 years. I've been in since I was 16. What am I almost? Yeah. 24 years and 23 years now. Like. Yeah.
• 26:02
  We just start to get kind of the gym etiquette. And so, but you're going to get those guys. And some of those guys are the reasons why a lot of my clients back in the day did not want to go to the gym. And I'm like, just kind of ignore them. They're just, they're just, they're just very there. That's all.
• 26:15
  So that's why I asked you because of those freaking skits that you do on Instagram. They're freaking hilarious. When you put on the wigs, I almost die. I like, I cannot wait to see when you're making fun of somebody because I've been, I did a reel about that too. It's like, that's just a no, no, don't stand in between the mirror and the person doing the lift. But would I correct somebody only if they're being egregious. And for the most part, you know, most people are, we've forgotten. Yeah.
• 26:43
  Now with phones, that etiquette, gym etiquette. Don't sit on the freaking machine with your phone and hog it up. Let people work in. Drives me insane. So I just walk up and I just am polite as can be. I'm like, hey, let me work in. Let me work in. And remember, this is coming post-COVID, so people get freaked out. I'm like, I don't care. I just...
• 27:04
  I just roll through it. So I ask that. If you're not following Brad, you guys got a sober bodybuilder. He's hilarious. And really, truthfully, he knows his stuff backwards and forwards. You do know your stuff. I listen to everything you say. Your peanut butter skit was spot on. Because honestly, it made me think, like, dude, I throw peanut butter and everything for added protein. And I was saying, I never even looked at the sugar that comes with it.
• 27:31
  So it was, it was very eyeopening. So follow the song. Don't get me wrong. I eat a lot of peanut butter. It's just not the best way to get your, get your protein in. But yeah, don't give you, I'm a peanut butter fiend.
• 27:44
  Yeah, I put it in my shakes. So you're tremendously successful. You own several businesses. You're doing well. Even though 2023, he said, kicked your butt. What's a typical day in your life look like? Because without even knowing you, I know you run a routine. So I like to share the routines with everybody because there's a kid listening right now. They're like, hey, these two freaking monkeys are huge. What does it look like for you? Like I'm at the gym at 5 a.m. every morning.
• 28:14
  Yeah, I admire people like you. I get up, I immediately drink 16 ounces of water with a half a scoop of electrolytes. I just, you've been sweating all night. And it's just a good way to, I mean, we wake up a little dehydrated. Don't get me wrong. I have coffee shortly after, but I made the commitment myself. And now I, even on vacation, it's like clockwork. I'll have to have a 16 ounce water bottle in there. My girlfriend makes fun of me. She's like, you're so habitual. Yeah.
• 28:41
  And I was like, well, that's, that's what works for me. I'm adaptable in my routines, but I keep them pretty set. Um, I wake up, have that. Um, and then I, uh,
• 28:53
  I get my coffee going as I'm getting my coffee going. I have it stacked out with, I get all of my supplements laid out for the day. So morning, lunchtime, evening, have them all in these little bins, got all that ready. And then I usually do some kind of like 10 minutes of a little bit of a meditation or a little bit of breath work. It just helps kind of center me. And I wish I could say I'm 100% on this since now I have 50-50 in my kid. Depends on what time he wakes up, but I try to get up earlier than him.
• 29:21
  um, to get that done. And, uh, then I take a cold shower every morning. A lot of people like to shit on them. I don't really care if someone does them or not. Um, I do feel a little better. It definitely wakes me up and I like doing something hard right away. Like it's just, um, just challenges me right away. I like, I like getting one big hard win out because every morning when that thing, and it's cold in Utah right now. So
• 29:44
  That thing is cold. When I hop every morning, I stare at the door to open it. And I'm like, I don't want to get just turn it to warm. And then it's just this little and sometimes at the end, I do turn it to warm and enjoy it. So I'm not I'm also not a complete psychopath. But you know, that's just what works for me. And people are like, Oh, cold showers don't work. I'm like, if it don't work for you, I don't give a shit. Don't do the cold shower. Then I could care less. I really could not care. But I couldn't care less if you do it or not. I like it. And it's
• 30:14
  And then I hit the ground running, get ready, eat a very healthy breakfast. I'm not an intermittent fasting guy. That's a one big meal that I do and high protein. And then I get on with my day. My days are pretty crazy from, you know, until I get my kid or until I'm off. I go to the gym midday. I'm a lunchtime workout guy. It's just what works for me. I used to be an evening, and I hated that shit. But that is an appointment on my schedule.
• 30:44
  that my assistant knows can't move, I don't move, very, very rarely will I budge into that. And I've thought about it as Dominic gets older about maybe switching back to morning. So when he's old enough to kind of take care of himself in the morning, because as my days get busier and busier, it has been hard, but I will not miss that. It is an appointment that I show up for. And so I urge you, if you're struggling with getting to the gym, use a Google Calendar or something and time block that shit out like it's an appointment.
• 31:14
  I'm set to be there. I go, um, I work out with my girlfriend, which is nice because then I have somebody there meeting me and I need to show up and she forces me to show up on time. And so, um, you know, that's, that's kind of a day in the life I work out. Then I go back, I do some work and, uh, and then try to be a really present father, spend good time with my kid. I have 50, 50 custody of a, of a almost four year old little boy. And, um, and dude, like, and then I do a little nighttime ritual as well. Um,
• 31:43
  I try to have my blue light blockers on. I try to turn off electronics about a half hour, 45 minutes before bed. I wish it was before then, but I'm not perfect at it.
• 31:52
  And I try to get in bed around the same time, every single night, wake up around the same time. And yeah, sometimes I'll do a little brain dump like journaling if I'm feeling super stressed, but yeah, man, I mean, that's kind of a, leaving out a lot of the details, but that's kind of day in the life. That's very similar to mine. I gotta tell you a funny story. First of all, I think that we should invent an app of somehow transpose a woman
• 32:21
  To the gym, because anytime there's a woman in the gym that's attractive, you work out harder. So if your girlfriend's there, you're probably getting a better workout. If she's not there, you're probably like, eh. So I think that that's a cheat code. Let's put attractive women at the gym. That's number one. Number two is you'll get a kick out of this. You want to know why I work out at 5 a.m.? Because when I used to drink, the second I have a drink, I wouldn't go to the gym.
• 32:43
  So I wanted to get it out of the way the first thing in the morning because I knew I was probably going to drink later in the day and I wouldn't go to the gym. So I made it my priority. And even if I was hungover, that was how I got unhung over. So it's even my weightlifting has to work around my my drinking.
• 33:04
  So interesting. Isn't that funny? It's fricking hell. And it stayed. Hey, but that was smart. As your son gets older, you'll see his schedule becomes very busy. I have a 15 year old daughter and her social schedule is so busy. I have about 60, 40, I have about 60% custody. So everything she does that's responsible comes through me. So her schedule gets crazy. So I just make sure I have to get my gym in because if I don't,
• 33:32
  it's worse than if I didn't have coffee or food. It's like I, my daughter even knows she's like, dad, did you go to the gym today? I'm like, no. And she's like, I, it shows. That's my sanity, dude. It always has been. So if you could do one exercise for the rest of your life, what would it be and why if you could only do one, sorry, that's what I might say. If you could only do one. Hmm. Okay. Well, Hmm. If you say wrist to the ankle, I'm coming through this computer screen.
• 34:02
  If I say what? Wrists and ankles. Oh, yeah. Just do some tibialis raises. I, you know, okay, let me frame this up. Let me think about it. What?
• 34:17
  What I feel like I should do, but I hate the word should so much. What would actually be the most beneficial, I believe, for a functional standpoint would be a traditional deadlift. Now, that being said, I beat my body down a lot. Like, I don't traditionally deadlift a ton of weight anymore. But I think from a functional standpoint, I've been able to...
• 34:40
  pick things up, put them down, be strong that way. Something that hits basically every muscle, um, almost in the body. That's what I would say. If somebody only had one exercise to do is what I think would be the most functional, but considering I don't do many traditional deadlifts anymore. Um, I don't want to say that because that would be a lie, but, um, gosh, man, that's a good question. I don't know. One exercise for the rest of my life. I love the stuff that you went into thinking about this. It's supposed to be a fun question.
• 35:12
  yeah i went very serious on you no let's go to another one because this one's fun too i put some fun stuff because everybody there's nothing we're gonna say that lift lots of weights uh say your prayers eat your vitamins dude everybody knows what they need to do to work out they just gotta look in the mirror if you could train with any celebrity dead or alive what who would it be and what workout would you do together
• 35:36
  You know, I've always, always respected. And I think I would do some, some upper body with them. I don't know what exactly two things, two people came to mind, Mark Wahlberg. I've just always respected that dude. He's, you know, he's not overly jacked, but he's always, he always has to play these roles where he's in pretty good shape. And when he needs to get in really good shape for a role, he, uh,
• 35:58
  I get pretty jacked. And I've just always thought, I've always liked Mark Wahlberg. And he's always had fitness as like a part of his life. I heard him on a podcast, I don't know, probably a couple years ago. And he was talking about like this has been ingrained in him. And like when he has to play a role that's like a little bit of a slender, skinnier guy, he absolutely hates his life because they tell him to not work out a lot. But I think I'd like to do it. I saw one day The Rock posted his chest day. And I'm like, man, that looks like it would take me through the ringer. That would be fun.
• 36:29
  Yeah, that's a good one. I think I'd agree with that one on you. So my answer for the one body part would probably be chest or some sort of press, dumbbell press. And anybody I'd work out with would probably be Arnold. I was just at Gold's Gym in LA and I just missed him.
• 36:48
  And people were showing me videos. So I'd love to train with Arnold once. That would be a good one. That would be fun. What's the most unexpected benefit you've experienced from bodybuilding besides physical strength and appearance? Yeah, I think the confidence that comes with it. And not just from your body looking better, but...
• 37:08
  being able to get, you know, under a bar or under some dumbbells or that you're like in the minute you lean back or the minute you walk off that squat rack or whatever it is, that you're like, oh, shit, you get that like just as heavy. And it's just this mind over matter. It almost becomes this like spiritual experience to just be like, I mean –
• 37:27
  I've laid back with some dumbbells that were really heavy on an incline press and I throw them up and I'm like, oh shit. And I'm like, nope, nope, nope. You got this. You got this. And then, you know, my brain is doubting me. Like, dude, you're not going to even, you can't get these up. These are too heavy. And then I get them up and then I get four or five reps. Like that is, it's just a very empowering exercise in not listening to my first thought of my brain all the time.
• 37:57
  I just think it's yet another tool for me to continually challenge myself and continually like press past barriers that my brain initially tells me you can't do this shit. Like to me, that's that's powerful because that's life. Right. Not about being harder than life.
• 38:15
  It's learning how, like my first thought is not always correct. My first thought is a little bitch sometimes. It's like, you can't do this. Nope, too hard. Hey, that fight or flight kicks in, right? And weight training is just another example of that that I believe transfers. I've always said, if someone really, really took this fitness journey, right, let's say they were like, I'm going to give a year of my life and hopefully the rest of their life after that point. But I'm going to strength train. I'm going to eat right. I'm going to do my cardio. I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to devote this. I'm going to get my sleep. I'm going to, you know, quit partying.
• 38:44
  the lessons they would like the physical results at that end of the year would almost be the icing on the cake for the person they became in the process. Like, because you learn so much about yourself, you learn grit, you learn determination, you leave dedication, consistency, battling through adversity. You know, you learn these things along the way that transfer. That's not just specific to, to this fitness journey. I believe it transfers into every area of life. They start noticing, you know, and you have to be patient as shit in this journey. Yeah.
• 39:13
  guys have been at this for 30 years like you and 20 years like me. Like, you know, this shit, like me and you were in there because we love small incremental changes. Like you got to really love this shit to be like, I'll notice some changes in my physique. And my girlfriend's like,
• 39:29
  But even when I look worse, she tells me I look the same, which I genuinely believe she just doesn't notice these small. I'm like, look at this. I've been really working on my medial delts. The other popping a little more. She just stares at me like, what the hell? Yeah, sure, honey. I'm like, good God. But she also when I'm like, I'm a lot of shape. She's like, I literally can't tell. Yeah.
• 39:51
  You got to love this shit to like do that for like that little extra bit. And, and guys like me and you do it because it's who we are. It's our lifestyle. It's ingrained in us. But yeah, man, that was a long winded answer to say, I just think that there's so many lessons you can learn from, from, from really taking a fitness journey and a lifestyle change. Super serious.
• 40:12
  I got to tell you, I'm 70 plus episodes into this. And Brad, I like that answer. I hope people go back and rewind and listen to that again. That was one of my most favorite answers to any question I've ever had. So thank you for saying that. And I would tell you one more. Impossible only describes a degree of difficulty. I've always thrived on people telling me I can't do something in doing it. And a lot of times I'll walk into some of these places, especially when I was at that gold gym.
• 40:40
  And I'll grab the 125 pound dumbbells and just throw them around like they're nothing. I was like, oh, steroids. I'm like, no, no, no. That's the reason why I started weight training is because my stepfather was a big boy and used to beat the crap out of me. So this was the armor that I did to protect myself. And it opened doors for me that, you know, I walk into a room beside that you're not in, people are looking at me. So I get to shake hands and kiss babies that most people can't. So it's been very good for me.
• 41:09
  I went to spoke to some real estate agents at this conference here. It was like 300 in the room. And one of the guys that who was running it as a good friend of mine, and he said, just come talk about like health and vitality. And this was, they weren't fitness people. Right. And my message up there was just like, I,
• 41:27
  I don't care how you want to label it. Here's the truth is the story I told was, I mean, you, you got two guys that walk into, you know, a boardroom meeting and there's, there's 20 people in there waiting for these two guys. And the one guy walks in sloppy and out of shape, even though he might be the more powerful man. And then you got a guy who comes in who is maybe not as powerful as him yet is a physical specimen. He walks with his head held high.
• 41:52
  He's jacked. He's in great shape. I'm already sorry. The reality is whether people want to admit this or not, the second guy is going to demand the attention a lot faster. If no one knows how powerful the first guy is, they're not going to take him nearly as serious until they hear about his clout or whatever. They're going to take the guy who walks in and they're like, damn, that dude's a physical specimen. And when you can be a successful entrepreneur and incredibly in shape, you become a unicorn because most people are not. And I looked in that room and I said, here's the deal. Most of you...
• 42:21
  are so not even close to where you could be with your physical body. And you are shooting yourself in the foot. You have no idea. And I was at the, I was at the montage in Laguna Beach right before, it was the weekend before I spoke at this thing back in October. And I told them,
• 42:38
  There was a guy at the pool and you see all these dudes who they have the Rolex on, right? They are fat and out of shape. And you can kind of see like, you know, the difference, the way this guy carried himself at the pool. I mean, kind of like head. I mean, he did not feel comfortable with his shirt off. And then I see him waiting for his, you know, you know, Lambo at the valet. And now his head's held high. Right. Because now it's like, look what I got.
• 43:02
  And I was like, do you know how Boston would be if you could have both? But there was another guy there who wasn't, he was not in great shape, but that dude had this confidence. He was beaming. Like he, like, I was like either he is just the most confident kind of overweight guy where there's something behind him. He was confident. He was playing with his kids as he was walking with the shoulders back. He's like this confident guy. Yeah.
• 43:24
  And, um, and I had his Rolex on and I started chatting with him and I told him what I did for, you know, a living. And he said, oh man, guess what? I I've recently lost 70 pounds. Whoa. And I was like, oh, and I said, you know what, man, I can tell. And he was like, you can tell. I'm like, well, I don't know what you looked like before, but I was like, dude, I noticed you like you are walking with this confidence because even though you're not a physical specimen yet, I didn't say that part to him, but even though he wasn't yet, um,
• 43:48
  He was so proud of himself for losing 70 pounds and like coming from where he was, that he was already starting to embody this. And I just want to shake people and be like, man, like if you understood, like if you're winning the business game, but you're missing the body game, you were doing yourself such a huge disservice. I love seeing overweight people in the gym, starting their journey. I encourage them every time. I think it's great. Uh,
• 44:14
  The conference you spoke at wasn't who's who's at your table from Scott, the red suit realtor. Oh, no, but I do know him as well. I popped into an event. That's the last time I was in Utah. And it was a bunch of realtors and it was Sean Whalen giving his speech. And I walked in just before. He's like, whoa, who just walked in? Yeah.
• 44:40
  Oh, he's like, and then he immediately freaking, you know, Britain says, you know, he's on stage and he starts talking to me while he's on stage. Like, who the hell are you? Oh, he was. Yeah, that's funny because I actually saw some clips from that chat or that talk of his.
• 44:57
  Yeah, I was there. It was like, you know, I don't mean to be it. I'm the most friendliest guy you'll ever see in the world. So I got some more fun questions for you. If you could swap bodies with any animal for a day, which would you choose and why? I mean...
• 45:17
  Dude, I think a lion, they're just, I mean, those things are just fierce. You know, and I also think like a racehorse, you look at, I mean, those things are so jacked and lean, these racehorses. They are in peak physical condition. I mean, there's certain anabolic steroids that are made for these horses that, you know, help them run faster and stronger that human beings will take. But I just think...
• 45:43
  you know, two different types of line is slow, methodical, but powerful and big. And like, you just don't mess with them. But then you got like a racehorse where, I mean, I've, I've looked at one, my buddy owned some of them and I was just like, I mean, dude, just these striated like, you know, hamstrings and quads going down into their legs. Like I, I, I would just thoroughly impressed with what they look like and, and then how fast they can run.
• 46:11
  When I write these, I answer them on myself. I don't know why I come up with this crap, but I just was thinking of something funny because I knew we would hit it off. And I thought of a gorilla because of their strength. I'm like, how fricking crazy would it be to have gorilla strength? And I did a reel yesterday about, about a lion and how the lion isn't is the king of the jungle, but not because it's the biggest, that's an elephant, not because it's the fastest, that's a cheetah and not because it's the smartest, but,
• 46:37
  might be a monkey. I don't know what that, who the smartest is, but it's because he believes he is. So it's all about your mindset. So that's a little bit deep for us two meatballs. And because, because they believe it,
• 46:51
  we believe it too. Yep. Like I see these dudes like these crazy, you know, like, uh, what's that guy's name? I've met him one time, the real Tarzan. Uh, I mean, like sitting there playing with lions and I'm just like, I would be terrified, but it's because they believe they're so powerful that I'm like, I mean, and they can be, but I was like, it's such a good lesson in how you show up. Right. I love that dude. That's a funny question. Cause the next question is going to line up. What's the funniest misconception about bodybuilding or fitness that you've encountered?
• 47:22
  You know, it's interesting. I think one misconception that first comes to my mind is that somehow, if you're that jacked, you must be a big dumb man. Some of the most intelligent, smart people I know are also bodybuilders. They might be crazy.
• 47:45
  But there is this misconception that if you're that big, I, you know, that's where the big dumb meathead came from. Right. And some of the, like, I mean, I know some top tier pro bodybuilders that are some of the most intelligent people I've ever met. Like the way their brain works is just fascinating to me.
• 48:04
  Um, and I think the second one is that if anyone is, we've already checked on this, if that, if somebody is especially a man, if somebody is jacked, um, then there is 0% chance that they're not also enhanced on steroids. And it's just, I know some really jacked natural guys and I know some jacked dudes who have taken stuff, but haven't taken a long time like myself, like there is, um, there's a, and that's, again, it go, that goes back to.
• 48:31
  that I think a lot of insecurity and maybe both of them do, right? If they're going to be big and buffer than me and look better than me, then dammit, I should be smarter than them. So I'm going to label them as dumb. I mean, it could be one, or you have these movies that play off the big dumb jock. And so maybe where some of that came from, right? Some stereotyping from, you know, you know, as we've gone along the years, but I do think there's a huge massive insecurity that, you know,
• 48:53
  If somebody is big and looks much better than me, not me, but like in general, right? Rhetorically, then that must mean that they are cheating because there's no way they could look better than me.
• 49:02
  You know, those are the two misconceptions that if you're jacked, that you must be on steroids. And that if you're super, super jacked, you might be stupid. It's just not true. I love that. I love when I meet new women and they're like, they're expecting me to be dumb. And then I start talking like, oh, oh, okay. He knows what he's talking about. You know who's actually super duper intelligent is Arnold Schwarzenegger. I just read his book. He's brilliant. Brilliant. I mean, we kind of figured that out when he was the governor of California. But that dude is super wicked smart.
• 49:31
  Yeah. Yeah. Super smart. I didn't know that. Yes. Yeah. He's if you don't, I don't know if you read or you listen to audio books. His book was great. I read it in like two days. It was so good. I highly recommend that you read that. Check it out. What's the secret to saying discipline in your diet without feeling like you're missing out on indulgence?
• 49:54
  I've always said, man, I think, I think the key is not making anything off limits, like allowing yourself to, because this is a natural bit when we, when we say we can't have one, which is why even with like, you know, even in, in programs like AA, they say like one day at a time, because if we say we're never going to have one the rest of my life, like, you know, then our, our body, our brains instinctively want that. Right. And then they feel restricted. And so I think that where I think allowing yourself and, and for me, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm,
• 50:23
  No, no foods off limits, but that doesn't mean I choose to eat it all the time because not only a, well, my body not look great, but even deeper than that. I, you know, when I worked with a lot of clients, I'd tell them like, you got to pull off. You got to think about how does this food make me feel?
• 50:37
  You know, I'm not saying if you have a donut here and there that you're going to I do and I'm still lean, but you will not feel great. And that's the problem. Like, you know, I don't like how I feel when I eat a bunch of shit. So I choose not to. But it's also not off limits. I think the key to staying dedicated is a finding different leverage points. Like besides, I can't have this food because it will make me fat. It's like, no, I don't want this food because I feel like shit when I eat it.
• 51:02
  And like when you eat clean long enough, you get to that place where those foods do do that. Like I still indulge sometimes. And every time I'm like, oh man, that was, I feel like shit. And it's okay to do that sometimes, but I just pick and choose when I do that. And so I just think,
• 51:19
  And that's been my message for a long time is I used to like make things super off limits and then I craved them. And the minute I was like, dude, if you want some, have a little bit, just have it in moderation, have a little bit and move on. And I found when I gave myself permission, you know, I just don't want as much. And so you got to you got to find different leverage points of why you don't want to eat those foods all the time.
• 51:40
  and why you choose to eat the other foods, by the same token, like, you're not going to state, people are like, I'm swearing off sugar forever. And I'm like, well, that's probably not true. So, but like, I think it's really good that you want to eat significantly less sugar. I think that will be far more advantageous for your life. But and stop putting these these rigid, no, I can't like, it's, you know, I just think that's one thing that really holds people back.
• 52:06
  I could talk to you forever. We got about five more questions and I want to be cognizant of your time. So you're a father, a business owner, a boyfriend, a lot going on. What do you want your legacy to be for little Dominic? I want Dominic to know that his dad, like his dad, you know, made an impact in this world and, you know, stood up for what's right.
• 52:34
  on one side of the coin, like, and, and also, you know, stood up for himself and stood up for our family, but also would give my shirt off my back to somebody if they actually needed it. But I've learned with that to, to do it to the right people. There's some people that just don't really deserve that from me anymore. Um, because they showed me, you know, show me who they were right time after time. Um, yeah, I, I want, um,
• 52:59
  you know, to leave an impact in a legacy where he, his last name carries some weight, especially here, you know, where I grew up in Salt Lake city where people are like, Oh, that was your dad. And so your dad was a hell of a man. You know, I hear Ed my let talk about his dad and you know, the people, people are just like, your dad was the greatest. Like that is a legacy for him to leave. And yeah, he was the one that changed it financially. Yeah.
• 53:26
  But, you know, his dad left a legacy to carry that name. And that's what I want for him, you know. You know what that legacy was, right? You know. Sobriety. Yeah. Yep. What's your biggest fear since we're on that subject? Oh, man, fear. I would say fear is...
• 53:51
  What is my greatest fear? I think some of my greatest fear is still to this day, like not living up to my potential because I feel like I haven't even really scratched the surface. And I'm approaching 40 and I'm like, dude, am I going to live up to like I feel like there's so much more to live up to. I try to not live in fear today. I used to have my whole life governed by fear.
• 54:13
  And I always say an acronym for fear is fuck everything and run. Like that's what you want to get in fight or flight and run. And today I know not to do that. I tried it and not that fear doesn't creep up. It's a big difference of fear.
• 54:25
  getting in fear and it's another thing to camp out there like I don't camp out in fear anymore because when I am I'm not helpful to you I'm not helpful to anyone it's like I am not because I get really self-absorbed about my fear and like oh my gosh my anxiety and and I have tools and tactics part of that is working out I go for a walk I'll meditate I'll call a friend like
• 54:45
  a journal, like I'll do something if it gets to the place where I feel like I'm getting paralyzed by this. But I think, I think my greatest fear, if you would ask me a year ago was not being a good dad. And in 2023, while, while we, we had some blows in business. And like you said, even despite that, I'm,
• 55:02
  I'm really grateful that like, we definitely weren't on food stamps, you know? Like it's just, and it's just money. Money comes and comes back. And that's the beautiful part. And it already is this year. But what I realized in 2023 that Trump said all was, I am a good dad. Like I had a great fear about getting 50-50 of him. And if I, you know, because his mom was worried because one of our problems in our marriage was, I was pretty selfish. And she would remind me of that.
• 55:30
  And what 2023 showed me is that I am a good dad. And I was like, holy shit, that's the biggest win. Fuck the money, fuck everything else. Like the fact that I can go, man, like, yeah, I'm a good dad. Like I don't have to live in fear of that anymore because my behaviors and actions have showed. Like, you know, they've overrode that fear that maybe all this other stuff that she said to me initially, she doesn't anymore, but was true. And so I think just fear of not living up to my potential, man.
• 55:59
  I'm excited for you, man. I really enjoyed this. And there's more, we got a couple more questions, but I've really enjoyed it. The depth of you, you have tremendous depth and you're kind and your warmth and there's a lot of love. And I look forward to seeing you grow. And I swear to you, I did not start growing massively. I kind of started looking around when I turned 40, but at 43 is when my massive growth comes. So you're smarter than me, definitely more handsome.
• 56:24
  you'll get you'll i'm looking forward to however i can i can feed into you i'm going to be in utah a lot so anything that you want you have a friend in me and you need somebody to kick your behind i'll be there but dominic's in good hands and um forgive that selfish guy because you aren't him anymore i can see it so i'm proud of you thank you brother we got all this far thank you
• 56:49
  And we haven't done anything, talked about any of your businesses. So what projects or initiatives are you currently working on or excited about? Specifically, I was on your website yesterday doing show prep and just making sure. There's so many ways to work with you. This is your infomercial to get the Heart of the Life listeners how they can reach out and touch you and work with you.
• 57:09
  Thanks, man. Yeah. So the, uh, so I've owned key nutrition since 2017. So we do one-on-one fitness nutrition coaching. I have eight different coaches that work for me and they're all amazing. And we do a very high touch, um, you know, coaching model. Um, we do phone calls or zoom calls almost every week with clients, um,
• 57:28
  And because we're really working on a lot of the mental, emotional side, too, along with obviously the workouts, nutrition. But, you know, and then I created this Next Level Experience course about four years ago. I run that three times a year. It's a high-ticket self-development program. And we only take about 12 people at a time because it's very intimate. We got a therapist that helps. We got energy work. We've got all that. We got two weekly calls.
• 57:55
  but the thing I'm most excited about right now is I just, and I saw you just launched the harder than life app is a launch. I think I'll be key collective, which is a, a low ticket membership site, which is basically taking that high ticket. Um, some of those, those principles from that and a lot of the fitness and nutrition stuff from key nutrition and blending them into one. And so, um, cause you know how it is, man, like I've been fortunate enough. Um, when I coached a lot more, I mean, you know, I started coaching in 2006, five, um, yeah,
• 58:23
  And, you know, was hit and miss with it. But, you know, I've coached, I think, over 1,600 people. And that's amazing. But I want to I want to help 16,000 or 160,000. And you can do that. You only have so much time in the day on a one on one basis. So it's a low ticket, super low ticket, just monthly monthly membership app that has has the workouts in there, has the workouts.
• 58:46
  has, you know, but a weekly live call on a community and, um, you know, tons of different recipes and, uh, long form content on, on all different things. And so, um, you know, it's, uh, that's what I'm most excited about right now because, you know, people could join things like your app and, and, and my app and,
• 59:05
  and a couple others even and still stay at a very like reasonable monthly price and get so many different avenues of stuff. And so that's what I'm most excited about that just launched this week. So this three days ago. And so yeah, super excited about that. That's, that's the biggest thing I've been working on and putting so much content into there has been exhausting over the last four months, but it's, it's coming together. So.
• 59:32
  So to work with Brad direct, go to my next level experience.com. I don't think the app is on. I didn't see it just so you're clear to my app. And then it's key nutrition, key nutrition.com as well. So my next level experience. Yeah. And then key nutrition.com will, will sync you to next level or the, the, the collective app too. So.
• 59:53
  I'll send you a text. My app is a community health and happiness app. So I need someone in there talking about fitness, nutrition. It's all available. But this is just a I call it the winner's circle. It's a social media app with guidelines. So no, there's no negativity allowed in my app. And it's all for charity.
• 1:00:17
  So if you want to go there and you want to freaking, you should see in there, it's just started two weeks into it. And there's, there's maybe 50 or a hundred people in there and they're all lifting each other up. Somebody puts a post, 10 people are freaking let's go. So it's a.
• 1:00:32
  it's think of it as a, as just a happiness hangout and you have access to, and I just said, guys, there's no rules other than you can't be negative. You can't tear each other down and I'll throw you out. And it's just get in there, pump each other up, sell each other things, work together and lift each other up. So
• 1:00:50
  Go in there and throw your nutrition. There's nutrition in there. I got some affiliate agreements. We'll do some other things with you. But I'll send you a link that jump in there and introduce yourself. And you'll get a bunch of business out of that. We're just about to turn on the marketing. It's going to blow up. We're going to get a million members. And it's all for charity too.
• 1:01:11
  Oh, that's cool, dude. Yeah. You're a good dude. I own an IT company that does well. We do really well. We're not worried about. Yeah. I saw that today. I was like, I wonder what this son of a bitch does for a living. I'm like, I was like, he's just a really rich influencer. And I was like, nah. Kelly has other things he's done. I'm sure of it. I just didn't know what. So today I was like, oh, that makes sense. I always knew. I was like, this is, and that's what it's like, you know, when people come talk shit,
• 1:01:41
  I don't have to do this for money. I mean, I'm thinking for you. Like, dude, get off the dude's back and quit hating. He doesn't have to do this shit. He's not like, you're not even, I post way more controversial stuff in the fitness industry. And yes, some of that's strategic. It's what gets views. Unfortunately, when I'm too soft, it just blends in with the 9 million other fitness coaches on there.
• 1:02:05
  So I do, but I post more controversial stuff. Some of the comments to you, I'm like, this dude just gave the most uplifting message and you're like, steroids, that guy's too big. I'm like, dude, get off, go, go, go be happy.
• 1:02:20
  Yeah, I just, you know what it is? I was given this gift by God of oration and this mind and this body. So I'm going to share it with people and I'm going to inspire as many people as I possibly can. And I've been called by God. There's no ifs, ands, ands about it. I've been shot at, I've been stabbed, I've been beat up.
• 1:02:38
  I every I've been run over my cars and I'm still here. That's what harder than life is about. So I'm going to freaking stand loud and proud and inspire as many freaking people. That's what did the app because I get sick and tired of being yelled and ridiculed by other people. So in my app, that won't happen.
• 1:02:58
  And, you know, I'm not saying it's going to be replace any apps. It's not. It's just a hangout for different people. It's like a fraternity or a sorority that you built of like-minded killers, savages, assassins. So having said that, I got two more questions. We'll get you out of here. Sorry, we're going long. Who has been your biggest source of inspiration in fitness or life besides Dominic? You know...
• 1:03:29
  In life, my father, and keep in mind, I hated my dad growing up. I hated my dad because he was super strict on me, and he had these things called boundaries, and I hated them. And I didn't really want anything to do with them. And until I was willing to clean up my life, he kind of cut me off. And now I look, and I'm like, if I can grow up to be half the man my dad is, he is not one of a ton of words. My dad rarely has to say I'm sorry because he thinks before he talks, to the point where you're like, you there? Hello? Hello?
• 1:03:57
  He is, um, you know, he's 76. I don't know how much longer I have with him. And I'm just, you know, I hear stories about people's dads who weren't. And I'm like, you know, he was kind of a dick, but he wasn't abusive. He was just stern. And when you're being a knucklehead, it's not going to work out well. And then the fitness, um, you know, I, um, you know, I was really, um, I was really inspired coming up in the, uh,
• 1:04:26
  It was the bodybuilding era of, like, Ronnie Coleman and Dexter Jackson and, you know, these guys. And I was just really – I was –
• 1:04:41
  I was so enamored by Jay Cutler. And when I got to meet him at the Olympia, and I was pretty jacked. I think I was 19. He pulled me off to the side and gave me some good advice and was super kind. And I've always so – he was a huge inspiration for me. And people told me, they're like, you look like Jay until I start losing more hair. I was like, thanks. Jay's a good-looking dude. I'll take that. So, yeah, those are the two.
• 1:05:06
  I got to tell you, you choked me up with the dad thing, man. My father died 25 years ago from heroin and drinking and smartest guy. He had the highest IQ of the family. It's brilliant. And just, just drugs and alcohol got him. My stepdad was,
• 1:05:22
  physically and emotionally abusive and an asshole and, um, still kicking to this day, even though he's unhealthy. And, uh, I would kill to have a conversation with my dad or look up to my mother, which I haven't talked to in probably 25, maybe even 30 years. So I'm, I'm happy for you and I'm going to live vicariously through your brother. And that was a great, I take back. That was the best answer yet. So if you could leave me with one piece of advice, what would it be?
• 1:05:53
  You know that everything you want is on the other side of uncomfortable and hard. Like everything you want in life, body, business, your relationship, your happiness. This shit doesn't happen by accident. It doesn't happen by luck. Sure, there's maybe luck involved, but everything I would say, everything you want is on the other side of uncomfortable and hard. Like...
• 1:06:17
  And, you know, just be willing to get comfortable being uncomfortable because on the other side of that is that beauty and that peace and that contentment. And, you know, and then life will throw you another battle. But just remember that everything you want is on that other side. And so walk through that. Don't numb yourself out through it. Don't run from it. Just walk through it. And it might not feel good in the moment, but you always get to that other side if you don't just give up. I think what I just heard you say is you got to be harder than life.
• 1:06:46
  That's right. I was about to say, a.k.a. Be Harder Than Life. Please rate and share this podcast. I'm active on all social platforms and love to hear from my Seagull supporters. Each and every episode is sponsored by my company, National Technology Management, the easiest and best IT company to do business with, delivering peace of mind with technology every day, even simplifying cybersecurity. Visit trustntm.com for more info. Until next week, be harder than life.