https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MmUCjbIK9lfPANe4pQ8ML?si=UDnS4Q56TYGEB1-Jr5zsZA

This episode debates whether you need to train to failure or not for muscle gains, and, more importantly, offers different ways of identifying or tracking "failure" in your training without going to true performance failure.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jymUFu6DpeQQHuNvvU6rh?si=MQwFIMzeTkKlQB2zc6giuQ&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1FgnTBfUlzkeKt

If you listen to just one of these podcasts this week, let it be this one.

Some key takeaways:

We are more depressed, anxious, and lonely than ever. People used to go to work and their work was just part of their day. The job was a small part of their lives. Up until 2000s or so, a person's job was simply that – a job. People had lots of other social events and interactions going on and they didn't identify themselves as their work. They identified themselves as what they liked to do/who they were outside of work. People were just.... individual people. Community was prioritized, since humans are social, communal beings.

Now, we identify ourselves as what our job is. Our jobs try to dominate our lives – whether you work for yourself or a corporation. The job or employer deem your day job as the most important part of your life. Heck, we even rely on work for friends. It's common nowadays to identify your co-workers as our only friends, which makes sense because they're often the only adults many of us speak to on a regular basis.

Hustle culture is at its peak. "Why aren't you working more?" "What do you want to be in 10 years?" "Where do you see yourself in this company within the next 5 years?" "Start a business," "growth, leadership development, climb the ladder!" etc.

On top of that, we are more isolated than ever. When we aren't at work, we're spending more time online, in front of screens, and alone than ever before. Social media makes us think we're connected, but really it's encouraging isolation.

Participation in various community and social events are at an all time low.

We no longer have a reason to identify as anything other than our work, and that can be overwhelming, stressful, and leave us feeling lost.

Here's one quote that struck me since it goes against the grain of modern bio-hacking culture:

"Friendship is the BEST bio hack."

^this is a big reason I'm moving back to Huntsville, Alabama. Not because I like it better than Boise. On a city to city comparison, Boise blows it out of the water, in my opinion, based on my experiences in both places, my preferred climate, geographical beauty, lifestyle of the general population and my own lifestyle biases. Boise is a Utopia to me.

But, my long time best friends live in the Huntsville area, along with a large percentage of mine and my wife's family, and the rest of our families and friends are based, largely, in the southeast. Being near "my people" is important for social health (and saves me money from not having to travel so far just to see everybody). You can't replace hanging out with your long time best friends with anybody, and life is too short to not spend time with people that are important to you and bring the best out of you.

That's just a quick table setter of the episode. I can't recommend this particular episode enough. I think it's important to hear what they Simon and Chris have to say and what solutions they share. I'll probably listen to it a second time through, because I'm sure I missed some nuggets.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uADP679eL93wVgvr2N0lo?si=HTktbDqwRPq4iCmql4RtRg

This one was all about muscle, sarcopenia (the loss of muscle with aging), bone health, nutrition, and how ALL these things relate to aging and longevity. Great listen for anyone – especially for those of us that work with clients that have bone density issues (osteopenia, etc) and clients in middle-older age suffering (often unknowingly) from sarcopenia.

In short: if you don't use it (it being muscle) you'll definitely lose it. Lift weights now, with the intention of building muscle, and never stop!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1x5sZG1afOOrmkxIXqhhEr?si=lwTLODfVRMSYSvVivAEc-A&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1FgnTBfUlzkeKt

This is another episode where 2 big YouTube fitness bros/trainers debate "main-gaining" (trying to build muscle while eating at maintenance and minimizing weight gain) vs "bulking" (eating in a calorie surplus with the effort of gaining maximum muscle but accepting some fat gain).

I really enjoy listening to both of these guys' content and thought this was a great conversation for any gym bros out there who are torn between main-gaining or doing specific bulking and cutting phases. They discuss pros and cons for each option and who/when one may benefit more from main-gaining or embracing a proper bulk.

Hey, thanks so much for reading! If you enjoy this article, please share it with a friend, foe, or family member! I don't do mainstream social media nor do I pay for marketing ads. I rely 100% on organic reach and word of mouth (digitally, virtually, or literally). I love writing and I love sharing all this content for free, so do me a favor and pass this along and help grow my readership so we can make fitness, nutrition, and building muscle easier and sustainable for more people!

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Since 2020 I've been sending out emails and writing articles almost daily. I do this on my own dime, during my own time, and – as I always say – it's a labor of love. But, if you find yourself loving my emails, articles, or products, and you want to leave me a couple bucks, this is the place where you can do that. Thank you so much! https://garagegymbro.gumroad.com/coffee

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