The Culture Club

Attention MovNat practitioners, trainers, gym owners, coaches, and outdoor enthusiasts!Do you see the writing on the wall, but don't know what to do about it?Wildfires. Drought. Pandemic. Unrest. None of these crises are new, but we now face an unprecedented "mismatch" between our modern environment and evolutionary heritage that has brought us to the brink of ecological collapse.It's time for health professionals of all stripes to become teachers and leaders for their communities in the present "age of turmoil". The secret to building a successful physical subculture doesn't lie in slick social media marketing or shiny new facilities, but finding specific values and a relevant cause to grow a local "movement movement" – using your local, natural, outdoor habitat as both "gym" and ultimate teacher.Join Frank Forencich (the Exuberant Animal) and Charlie Deist (A Natural Method) for a workshop on the new leadership role that is emerging to fill a desperate need in troubled times.Frank's book *The Sapience Curriculum* provides a "teacher’s guide for an age of turmoil," while Charlie's new anthology *The New Strongman Code* offers practical wisdom from six different trainers on how to build a robust physical subculture in the Post-COVID era.We can look to tribal elders of the past for inspiration, but there is something fundamentally unique about YOUR calling to lead YOUR clients, friends, family, neighbors, and unknown strangers on the path through the wilderness.In this session, Frank and Charlie share strategies for integrating your local bioregion into your classes/sessions – whether group or individual training – and use cues and information from your unique habitat to grow a sustainable tribe or business.Tune in for inspiration for your own practice, and learn how Frank and Charlie use real-world habitats as the context for their movement practices.

Michael Keeler of Mark Fisher Fitness joins the show to discuss the changes his NYC gym had to make in the wake of COVID-19, and what it looks like to lead with your values.

Mission, movement, and the rules of existence“Once you know why you’re doing it and you have a story with a good soundtrack, then the willpower and the muscle-power come right behind it.”Andrew Kluger is a director, cinematographer, and actor based in New York City. He is the creative director of EOTI Studios and directs visually charismatic and philosophically probing short films for some of New York’s most celebrated up and coming brands. He made his film directorial debut with SCREAMING PLACE followed soon after by EIGHT:TWENTY. With over ten years of production experience, he has simultaneously held creative positions at North Brooklyn Farms and Banyan Studios. He also recently published an art book, GRAND TRUST, which documents his journeys and photographic work:In this episode, Andrew relates his experience of purposeful movement to the need to imbue his exercise with meaning, musical potency, and stories. He talks about how he can listen to anyone else’s story and understand how that story could be his own (even if it’s something that contradicts his own story). Charlie asks Andrew to unpack his hierarchy of values that he uses to guide everyday decisions from higher-order categories of values, dreams, and ultimately, existential knowledge. On stretching and soundtracks:"What I really like to do it is listen to new songs, to stretch in a new way." On goals, dreams, and strategy: “Create goals that honor your dreams. Create a strategy to achieve your goals, and take some actions steps today towards those goals.”

Ron Jones of Leanberets.com discusses his work as a historical kinesiologist and the dire need for real physical education, a la La Sierra High School’s outstanding program from the 60s, 70s and 80s.In addition to discussing why PE is on the chopping block, we discuss:Mass Calisthenics & Czech Sokol History › Avengers Of Health! Physical Fitness Dynamic Health by Cureton Thomas Kirk - AbeBooks And Ron Jones’ three P.E. rules:Subscribe to Ron Jones’ podcast, the Lean BeretsSubscribe to Ron Jones’ podcast, the Lean BeretsQUOTES:On the danger of losing physical culture permanently:“In 2020 we are once again looking at PE going in front of the firing squad.”On sports versus P.E.“Sports are part of physical education, and they should be, but they shouldn’t be at the center of a PE program.”“You can’t build a house on a faulty foundation and expect it to hold up in a storm.”On Pedagogy:“It’s rare to find a teacher who will show a student how to sit, stand, and walk let alone how to run, jump, pull, and push.”“The ability of our children to read movement at the A B C level is not there today.”On classical virtues“It used to be a moral duty to be fit and to be strong.”“When we walk away from classical PE we’re walking away from a lot more than physical fitness; we’re walking away from elevating culture.”On the severity of the crisis:“By 2nd grade maybe 80% of students already exhibit signs of deformity.”“If you are not spending your leisure time wisely, in a way that will elevate culture, then you are putting your population at risk.”theLeanBerets.com

The Psychology of Exercise.

Teaching better movement, better.

Building strong, intentional community.

Physical Subculture at BodyTribe.

Deschooling the Fitness-Industrial-Complex.

Community Active-ism