Why Protein Supplements Are Getting More Expensive (And Less Potent) And How To Source The Best

In this episode, I answer the question of “Why is your B.rad protein so expensive?” and dig into why protein prices keep rising—and why lower prices often mean watered-down products. You will hear about the huge distinction in quality in the protein supplement marketplace, why the gold standard is grass-fed whey protein isolate, and how it stands in stark contrast to whey protein concentrate and plant-based proteins, which are less pure, less potent, and harder for the body to digest and assimilate. I also explain cold processing, lactose sensitivity, and why many people think they can’t tolerate whey when they’re really reacting to lower-quality products with leftover lactose, milk fat, and fillers. You will learn why protein supplements are getting more and more expensive and what’s happening in the marketplace, including ongoing supply chain pressure since the global pandemic, increased demand for protein, large buyers dominating supply, and reduced milk output from heat stress on cattle. I explain how lower prices often reflect cost cutting and diminished product quality through proprietary blends, nitrogen spiking, amino acid fillers, and additives like maltodextrin, and why I put my name behind a food-grade product and why paying more for very high-quality protein is a worthy investment.   TIMESTAMPS: There is a huge distinction in quality between whey protein supplements, thus the pricing variation. [00:01:54] Why is this happening in the marketplace? Bro Science gives us much information. [00:02:17] In cost-cutting, we are seeing a diminished quality of the product. [00:04:28] If you see the word "proprietary," it's a red flag meaning secret ingredients. [00:06:19] When you have a protein centric diet, you're giving yourself a chance to excel. [00:11:17] The price of protein in many different forms is increasing as it becomes more popular to focus your diet on protein. [00:13:02]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order! NEW: Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you overemphasizing cardio in your exercise program? The answer for almost everyone out there is yes. We are doing too much cardio at the expense of the most beneficial fitness stimulations by far (as known to exercise physiology, not just my opinion): anaerobic system development, true sprinting competency, and true muscular strength and explosive power. The biggest drivers of accelerated aging are sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass) and dinopenia (age-related loss of muscle power and explosiveness). Falling is essentially the first step in accelerated aging, because the body naturally loses anaerobic muscle power faster than aerobic fitness. This means you can maintain good cardio capacity for decades while becoming increasingly deficient in the qualities that prevent decline and falling—the number one cause of injury and death in Americans over age 65. In this episode, I explain why brief, explosive exercise is the most important and most neglected fitness stimulation, and why so many popular workouts are still overwhelmingly aerobic. I clarify the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise and share exercise physiology data showing that activities like HIIT, CrossFit, group exercise classes, and events like HYROX rely far more on the aerobic system than most people realize. I also explain how to bring true sprinting back into your program with minimal time commitment and minimal risk of burnout, using short, fully rested efforts that preserve muscle power, resilience, and healthy aging.   TIMESTAMPS: Are you over-emphasizing cardio in your exercise program? [01:05] Falling is the first step in accelerated aging. [02:56] Brief explosive exercises are recommended. [03:45] What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise? [04:50] All your intense activies like HIIT, Crossfit, and anything that lasts longer than a few minutes are primarily aerobic. [11:40] High Rocks is a template of challenges that stay the same in every competition. It is 98% aerobic. [14:00] Instead of all the endurance work you do now, something that uses minimal time, minimal risk of burnout, you can develop your power. Throw is the sprint routine that Brad talks about.  [21:40] Rest and relax in between your efforts. Put a true sprint workout into the mix. [26:48]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I explain why my stance on supplements has shifted and react to a New York Times article by Alex Hutchinson (author of Endure and The Explorer’s Gene) that cuts through the hype surrounding fitness supplements and asks a simple question: which ones actually work? I break down why the supplement industry is such a mess, including research showing that many so-called workout boosters contain unlabeled stimulants, steroids, or dangerously high doses of caffeine, how one study revealed that creatine gummies made by several leading supplements brands actually contained zero (or just trace amounts of) creatine, and why “more” is rarely better when it comes to performance enhancement.  From there, I walk through what Hutchinson calls the “Big Proven Five”: caffeine, creatine, sodium bicarbonate (yes, baking soda), beta-alanine, and nitrates. I explain how each one works, who it’s actually useful for, and the real-world tradeoffs—like why caffeine’s performance benefits depend heavily on dose and timing, why creatine’s gains show up over months rather than days, and why elite endurance athletes are suddenly embracing bicarb gels despite decades of GI horror stories. I also touch on supplements that have come and gone since the I.O.C.’s 2018 position paper—ketones, collagen, antioxidant cocktails—and where protein powder fits on the blurry line between “food” and “supplement.” If you’ve ever wondered what’s legit, what’s risky, and what’s just expensive hype, this episode will help you make sense of it all.   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I dive deep into why protein—especially high-quality whey protein isolate—becomes non-negotiable as we age, and why so many popular products completely miss the mark. I explain the real differences between whey concentrate, isolate, and hydrolysate; why lactose intolerance is often a quality issue, not a whey issue; and how misleading media “best of” lists often favor cheaper, inferior formulations loaded with additives, sweeteners, and questionable sourcing. I also share why I launched B.rad Nutrition in the first place: after struggling as a consumer to find a truly clean, grass-fed, cold-processed whey protein isolate sourced directly from small family farms in Wisconsin and verified free of heavy metals. We also zoom out into the bigger longevity picture—how whey protein works with exercise to preserve muscle mass, grip strength, gait speed, and explosive power as we age. I break down the research, including a 2024 meta-analysis on whey protein in older adults, explain why leucine thresholds matter more with age, and connect the dots between strength training, sprinting, and long-term health markers like mile time, 400-meter performance, and grip strength. If you’re older, trending plant-based, short on time, or simply confused by the protein aisle, this episode lays out exactly what to look for, what to avoid, and why protein needs to come first—every single day.   TIMESTAMPS: Whey protein continues to earn scientific support for its powerful health benefits. Pure andbioavailable whey isolate is the gold standard for whey protein. [01:05] It is recommended that you prioritize high-quality when it comes to supplements. [05:29] When wanting to purchase organic, bear in mind that if the item has thick skin like an avocado, it is not necessary to buy organic, but berries and other fruits and vegetables with the skin that is consumed, it is preferable to go for organic. [06:30] Whey is a byproduct of cheese manufacturing. [07:37] In older adults, whey protein can help maintain strength and muscle mass. [09:39] The time in the mile run is regarded as the single best predictor of one's ability to age gracefullythan any other thing, any blood value or laboratory test. [12:41] A missing feature of a longevity exerscise program is that brief explosive effort, sprinting andstrength training. [14:45] The body's ability to synthesize proteins, called protein synthesis, after a meal declines with age.[20:44] You need to focus on getting quality sources of protein that contain adequate levels of all nineessential amino acids. [22:51] It is recommended your goal to be around one gram of protein per pound of your ideal bodyweight. [26:08]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I do a reaction—and a critical deep dive—into Paul Saladino’s newly released Heart & Soil grass-fed whey protein. I explain why whey protein is considered the highest biological-value protein on the planet, why I’ve personally been very selective about using it, and what immediately caught my attention when Paul repeatedly claimed his whey is “better than all other proteins” because it’s made directly from milk instead of cheese—without explaining why. Since that claim matters, I dig into the details to see whether it actually holds up. I share insights from a third-generation family cheesemaker I trust, who’s been in the whey business for decades, about how whey is actually produced and why making whey directly from milk requires much higher processing temperatures—up to around 160°F—compared to the cold-processed methods used for high-quality whey protein isolate. I explain why higher heat can damage nutrient potency, bioavailability, and immune-supporting proteins, break down the key difference between whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate, and why the Heart & Soil product appears to be a concentrate despite being marketed as superior. I also talk about red flags around “proprietary” processing claims, compare this kind of marketing to similar claims made about creatine products, and give credit where it’s due—grass-fed New Zealand sourcing and third-party heavy-metal testing—while encouraging listeners to look past hype and understand how their protein is actually made.   TIMESTAMPS: Let's look at the protein supplements and how they are described. When you see the word “proprietary,” it throws up a red flag. [02:02] Making whey from milk instead of cheese requires higher processing temperatures. [04:08] Be careful when you hear the sales pitches.  Of course, the product sounds great when presented enthusiastically. [06:35]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Isolate Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Heart and Soil Supplements   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please enjoy a great conversation and in-person show here in the Sacramento studios of the B.rad podcast with my good friend and sprinting mentor Cynthia Monteleone, coming to you all the way from the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. We had a long, wide-ranging discussion on health, fitness, peak performance, and longevity—especially in Cynthia’s area of expertise, acting as a truth seeker and naysayer in the health and fitness scene. She isn’t afraid to speak straight, challenge prevailing opinions, and back it up with deep research and her experience working with elite athletes. We talk about the popular idea that preserving muscle mass is the key to longevity, why that insight is incomplete, and why muscle power, explosiveness, and strength are the real drivers of healthy aging. Cynthia also explains why jogging can actually make you slower and age faster—while walking does not—and why tired training backfires, along with the idea that recovery is just as much about the brain as it is about the muscles. As a Team USA world-champion sprinter and coach to Olympic and world-champion Masters-level athletes, Cynthia shares her thoughts on sprinting as an anti-aging strategy, creatine and why it’s not for everyone, diet—including dairy—and we even have some fun breaking down Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s viral green smoothie and the potential downside of consuming large amounts of plant toxins. She also talks about how she trains everyday people the same way she trains elite athletes, and why we should all think of ourselves that way. Cynthia has been a huge source of inspiration and reason for me over the years, and I really appreciate her willingness to think deeply, challenge trends, and always speak honestly about what actually works. A Team USA world-champion sprinter, Cynthia Monteleone is a highly trained metabolic health analytics practitioner who coaches numerous Olympic athletes and world-champion Masters-level athletes. She goes deep into the nuances of what delivers peak performance and helps people overcome health challenges to reach personal goals, especially weight loss and excelling in athletic goals. You can follow her at @FastOVER40 on Instagram and learn more at mamstrong808.com. Cynthia also has a healthy, natural skincare line: Earthen Hawaii.   TIMESTAMPS: We talk about the difference between just holding on to muscle mass and maintaining muscle power. [02:24] After being a college athlete, Cynthia married and had children. When her 11-year-old showed interest, she went back to the track.  [06:52] There are many people who aren't reaching their genetic potential. [13:04] Walking versus jogging: when you are jogging you are preserving slow twitch muscle fibers. [19:43] The power matters more than the muscle size. [26:18] When you do slow eccentrics (lowering the weight during the bicep curl), you are recruiting more muscle fibers. [29:48] Unless you are doing the Olympic Lifts in perfect form, the injury risks outweigh the benefits. [34:11] If you're an advanced sprinter, and you're training by doing hills and doing sled pushes, it's important at some point closer to your season to follow that resistance with flat work that's fast. [36:59] People often overdo jogging.  It can be detrimental to your health. [40:03] It's good to do a dynamic cool-down.  Little drills, like instead of jogging, you duck walks or toe walks. All manner of static stretching is ill-advised.  [42:02] It takes years for medical textbooks and journals to be updated to current findings. [46:12] Cynthia is a metabolic practitioner. She works with elite athletes as certified strength coach, encouraging diet and supplements. [50:58] What is wrong with the basic dietary notions we've been taught to believe are healthy? [53:02] Earthen Hawaii produces healthful skincare products rather than chemically laden things. [53:41] When working with a client's diet what Cynthia does is specifically pinpoint to that individual what they need most of and what is holding them back? [57:48] She teaches her clients to eat for neurotransmitters. [01:02:33] What about fasting? A workout of an hour gives a similar autophagy effect to fasting for 48 hours. [01:09:12] AI and algorithms are causing a problem with misinformation. Be careful. [01:17:20] The best athletes are always open to hearing all the information they can use for their competitive lifestyle. [01:21:35] Every supplement is not right for everyone. [01:25:06] What other foods and what other dietary patterns come up that you would suggest some experimentation and some trial and error if I'm trying to optimize my diet all the way? [01:28:22] There's a huge disparity in the quality and purity of whey protein. [01:32:21] Venison is highly nutritious. [ 01:35:11] Limiting grains is the key. [01:38:26] The type of exercise we do affects what kind of gut bacteria we produce. [01:40:05] Sugar can affect the hormones. [01:44:56] What is the difference between muscles and brain recovery? [01:55:39]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Earthen Hawaii IG @FastOver40  Nourish Balance Thrive Maui Nui Venison mam808.org   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I get into all these viral “every man should be able to…” fitness challenges you see on Instagram and YouTube—the ones with the deep-voice narrator rattling off random benchmarks that aren’t age-graded, aren’t grounded in any science, and somehow declare you “top 10% of health.” I talk about why the subject is relevant, what these lists get wrong, and how to think more clearly about real fitness benchmarks—especially as we age. I share the simple 6%-per-decade decline metric from masters track, my own goals in the 400 meters and high jump, and the example my dad set as he gracefully slowed down from walking entire golf courses in his eighties to looping the backyard in his nineties. The big point: we all slow down, but we don’t have to fall apart. From there, I take you through the real markers that matter for longevity and everyday vitality: walking as the centerpiece of aerobic conditioning, maintaining functional muscle strength to stave off sarcopenia and “opia,” and why explosive power—being able to save yourself from a misstep—is literally a one-rep-max that can determine your fate. We get into the dangers of falling, the massive brain-health benefits seen in active seniors, why VO₂ max is just one slice of the picture, and why the best longevity challenge of all is simply doing something you love enough to keep doing it for life. I also make the case for the 400 meters as the ultimate full-body benchmark—an event that forces you to tap every major energy system and says way more about real-world fitness than shuffling through a half marathon or throwing around big weights. If you want a clearer blueprint for staying strong, powerful, mobile, and fully alive deep into your later decades, this one pulls all the pieces together.   TIMESTAMPS: Brad questions the validity of some fitness challenges on the internet. They should be age graded. [01:02] The best longevity fitness challenge is doing something you personally enjoy doing and would like to continue doing for the rest of your life. [07:44] There are important benchmarks in the areas of mobility and flexibility as well as strength, power, explosive power, as you age. [12:32] In one study of seniors, it was found that the group who walked at least 4000 steps per day had bigger brains because of their walking habits. [16:47] You have to preserve that functional muscle strength throughout life to avoid the single most prominent marker of accelerated aging, which is sarcopenia, age-related muscle loss. [18:49] Running the 400 meter says volumes about your overall physical fitness and vitality. [21:49] Jogging 2.0 on the YouTube channel shows a typical morning session for Brad. where he shows a variety of fitness drills. [30:24] What is your mile time? Brad talks about a study that predicted longevity more accurately than blood work. [34:20] There are many other benchmarks to measure your fitness. [36:29] “Lift heavy things” means to engage in regular bouts of brief, explosive, high-intensity strength training. [38:22]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Outlive, by Peter Attia Jogging 2.0 video   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk about the modern tendency to obsess over “science says…” posts—like the viral claim that slapping your quadriceps ten times will wake up your motor cortex, spike your stretch reflex, and increase vertical jump by 18% and sprint speed by 12%. I describe why these numbers raised my hackles, walk through the reality of neural activation and theatrics we see from athletes like Karsten Warholm and Noah Lyles, and explain why a 12% speed boost would mean my 60-year-old 400-meter time drops from 60 seconds to 53.8, which is royal screaming BS. You’ll hear reactions from world-class masters sprinters like Lion Martinez and Cynthia Monteleone, and my reminder that most of these studies are done on minimally conditioned college kids getting paid $60—not real sprinters suddenly finding new superpowers. I also broaden the discussion to our habit of oversimplifying fitness with VO₂ max numbers, zone-two worship, HRV scores, and morning heart rate, when the truth is much more nuanced. VO₂ max is highly constrained by genetics, zone two is overrated, and walking and zone one deliver tremendous aerobic benefits—just look at Eliud Kipchoge spending 83% of his training there. I emphasize that intuitive readiness to train—your bounce, your warmup feel, your own voice—will always beat a wearable metric, and even the “best” performance booster (a gun to your head!) won’t give you a magical 12% sprint increase. This show is all about using critical thinking, not getting intimidated by data, and remembering that nothing is more powerful than your own intuition.   TIMESTAMPS: There is some validity to the idea of waking up the central nervous system and priming it for a peak explosive effort, but Brad has some problems with "facts" that are on the airwaves.  [02:06] We need to apply critical thinking to these scientific insights that get pounded down our throat every day. [05:26] V02 max is overrated and Zone Two is overrated. [08:57] Always come back to the intuitive approach which is the foundation of making correct training decisions. [12:51]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A friend recently asked, “What’s a good episode to start with?” for a basic overview of health and lifestyle optimization. Great question—and honestly, I didn’t have a good answer. So here it is! This show covers the basics from a big-picture perspective—the one to share with friends and loved ones. It’s not sciency or intimidating, just a simple, reasonable framework for how to live a healthy, happy, long life. I hit the five key areas: sleep, diet, movement, fitness, and stress management. You’ll hear why sleep, rest, and recovery are #1—everything flows downstream from there—and how artificial light and digital stimulation after dark wreck your hormones and metabolism. I explain how walking (yes, walking!) delivers a powerful aerobic effect, why sprints give the highest return on investment of any exercise, and how most people are overdoing “chronic cardio.” You’ll learn the simple diet fix of ditching processed junk—refined grains, sugars, and seed oils—and focusing on the nutrient-dense, animal-based foods that fueled human evolution. And we’ll finish with stress management: escaping chronic low-level stress, ending rumination, and carving out real downtime, nature time, and meaningful connection.   TIMESTAMPS: Where should you start in your healthier living endeavors? [00:51] The statistics for longevity for the United States population are horrifying. [02:11] Because of artificial light and digital stimulation after dark, most of us throw off our circadian rhythm which prevents us from getting good sleep, rest, recovery, and downtime. Sleep needs to be your number one priority. [04:18] There are many warring factions of people arguing about diet that confuse us. The number one thing you can do to optimize your diet is to start by cleaning up your act and removing the nutrient deficient heavily processed foods from your home. [17:23] In the heavily processed foods, it's the foreign chemical agents that cause inflammation, that cause gut dysfunction and promote obesity above and beyond their calories. [24:59] The visceral fat is especially health destructive because it accumulates in your abdominal area around your vital organs. [27:07] Focus on the ancestral foods:  red meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. [29:39] The highest rated category of fish is the oily cold water fish...the SMASH family: sardines, mackerel, anchovies, salmon, and herring. [38:30] Some restrictive diets cause a stress response in the body. They do help as an intervention, but not as a permanent diet. [43:54] When you are looking at the tremendous number of supplements available, you really have to understand what you are getting. [01:01:32] Have a goal of increasing all forms of general everyday movement in your life. [01:03:48] If you get too extreme into workouts that are medium to difficult, that are slightly too stressful to promote that long-term health benefit, you actually do the opposite [01:10:19] Sprinting is the best workout known to mankind, the highest return on investment of any form of exercise for overall fitness benefits. [01:16:14] You can easily overdo it when it comes to endurance training. [01:23:06] Stressful training diminishes your testosterone. [01:26:05] Stress management is crucial as you look to improve your well-being.  We live in very stressful times. [01:29:23] relationships, especially the romantic ones you may have, really need to be smooth functioning. [01:35:05] Rumination has been categorized as a metabolic disease with actual blood markers. [01:37:23] In summary, get good sleep and take breaks during the day. Clean out your food pantry by removing the nutrient-deficient chemically processed foods. Move every day. Adhere to sensible exercise patterns. Don't overdo it.  Manage your stress. [01:42:50]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Social Security Administration Actuarial Table The Hacking of the American Mind Podcast with Jack Kruse, Part 1 Podcast with Jack Kruse, Part 2 Mito red light desk lamp B.rad Nutrition Guide Kale vs. Liver Chart Take a Nap, Change Your Life Podcast with Jillian Turecki Podcast with John Gray John Gray Podcast on Regaining Lost Magic Happiest Countries in the World 2025 World Population Review of Happiness Income Disparity by Countries   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk about why “inspiration is for amateurs,” and why discipline, motivation, and willpower are some of the most overrated concepts in the fitness world. We’re surrounded by grind-culture blowhards bragging about 4 a.m. wake-ups and superhuman discipline, but the real secret to becoming the person you want to be—on the track, in the gym, or in any area of life—is much simpler and far more sustainable. I break down the three things that actually work if you want to avoid distractions, stop chasing motivation, and finally build momentum. I share how flying under the radar, focusing on the entire process (not just the instant gratification), and wiring habits so deeply they feel automatic can change everything. You’ll hear how my own morning mobility routine—now as familiar as brushing my teeth—became a daily anchor, why elite athletes don’t rely on willpower, and how tiny, enjoyable, repeatable actions beat the no-pain-no-gain nonsense every time. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “falling short,” this episode shows you how to reframe everything: stop trying to psych yourself up and start creating systems that make doing the right thing natural, rewarding, and something you’ll actually keep doing.   TIMESTAMPS: Brad is going to give you three secrets to help you become the person you want to be. [01:03] Winning habits and success patterns are formed when you get inherent enjoyment from the pursuit that we're talking about. [04:17] Willpower is a finite resource.  Your habits become automatic behaviors. [09:21] The first of the three secrets is to fly under the radar for the most part. Don't even worry about that very, very fragile resource, which is your willpower, the discipline to get there and show up. [11:25] Loving what you are doing is persevering through difficult challenges. [18:45] The constant comfort that we now can experience in life, most of us makes us physically weaker, mentally less resilient and spiritually unfulfilled. [25:05] Build your fitness endeavors into a habit. Start with something that makes it super easy. [29:00]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Brad's Morning Exercise Routine Podcast with Dr. Marc Bubbs Podcast with Dr. Robert Lustig The Hacking of the American Mind   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.