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In this episode, Austin shares his recent contest prep experience, including his new approach to peak week, training, and supplementation. He discusses lessons learned from multiple show seasons, peptide use, and insights into optimising physique and performance between seasons.

In this episode, Joe and Austin explore the neuroscience of anxiety, the role of supplements, and practical strategies for managing anxiety through neuroplasticity and acceptance. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections 02:02 Understanding Anxiety and Supplementation 06:00 Neuroplasticity and Its Role in Anxiety 11:47 The Mechanisms of Exposure Therapy 18:00 Practical Strategies for Managing Anxiety 23:57 The Role of Acceptance in Anxiety Management 31:18 Embracing Anxiety as a Tool for Growth 34:47 Understanding Anxiety: Normal vs. Disorder 38:23 The Role of Supplements in Managing Anxiety 46:07 Awareness and Acceptance: Key to Overcoming Anxiety 59:14 Gradual Exposure: The Path to Resilience

Join Joe and Austin as they discuss modern training strategies, the impact of AI on coaching, and practical insights for advanced bodybuilders. This episode offers deep dives into exercise selection, volume management, and the evolution of bodybuilding programming. Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back and Podcast Dynamics 01:54 Challenges of Coaching in Today's Environment 04:14 The Evolution of Training Techniques 05:38 Rethinking Equipment Use in Training 11:13 Injury Prevention and Load Management 17:06 Advanced Training Strategies and Volume Management 19:31 Training Prioritization and Programming Flexibility 22:57 Effective Reps and Training Volume Insights 26:54 Deloading and Adaptation Cycles 32:30 Exercise Selection and Neural Adaptation 38:35 The Evolution of Training Trends and Practices Resources Austin Stout on Instagram - https://instagram.com/austinst8 Joe's Instagram - https://instagram.com/joe_physiquecollective

Summary In this episode of the OPD podcast, Joe and Austin dive into a range of topics centered around stress & functional health. This leads to a broader conversation about the autonomic nervous system and its connection to functional health, where they explore how mindset and emotional states can impact physical well-being. Joe shares insights from his experiences at a meditation retreat, emphasizing the importance of regulation and the challenges of managing stress and anxiety in today's fast-paced world. As the conversation progresses, Joe and Austin delve into the concept of neuroplasticity, discussing how our brains adapt to stress and the importance of acceptance in the healing process. They highlight the paradox of seeking to fix symptoms while inadvertently reinforcing them through anxiety and fear. The duo also touches on the significance of mindfulness practices, such as meditation and being present in daily activities, as tools for fostering resilience and emotional regulation. The episode concludes with practical advice for listeners on how to cultivate awareness and acceptance in their lives, ultimately leading to a healthier relationship with their bodies and minds. Takeaways "The poison is in the dose." "You can't fix everything, nor should you try to." "Thinking about something doesn't make it work better." "What you resist persists." "Surrendering to discomfort is key for neuroplasticity." "Mindfulness is about being with whatever is." "Acceptance is the foundation of healing." "Every time you resist a thought, you rewire your brain." "Stress can manifest in many ways, but it often stems from the same root." "Neuroplasticity takes time and patience." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Illness Reflections 02:29 Exploring the Autonomic Nervous System 05:52 The Role of Mindset in Health 11:20 Contemplation and Identity Crises in Bodybuilding 16:04 The Stress Cycle and Health Anxiety 21:28 Neuroplasticity and Acceptance in Healing 30:33 The Journey to Autonomy in Bodybuilding 38:55 Evolving Needs and Personal Growth 40:50 Neurological Resilience and Discomfort 44:27 Mindfulness and Observing Thoughts 49:10 Surrendering to the Present Moment 53:34 Meditation as a Tool for Awareness 01:01:05 Intentional Delayed Gratification and Neuroplasticity

Summary In this episode of the OPD podcast, Joe and Austin welcome Tom Shepherd, a performance coach and author, to discuss the importance of mindfulness in training and life. Tom shares his journey in the fitness industry, emphasizing the significance of quality over quantity in training, the role of suffering in personal growth, and the transformative power of meditation. The conversation explores how mindfulness can enhance performance in sports and daily activities, the flow state, and the importance of creating a culture of self-improvement. Tom also introduces his upcoming venture, Kaizen, focused on constant self-improvement. Takeaways - Mindfulness is about channeling attention to what we want in our lives. - Mindfulness can enhance performance in sports and daily activities. - Suffering can lead to personal growth and deeper meaning in life. - Meditation should focus on acceptance and stillness, not just relaxation. - Finding meaning in suffering can transform our perspective on life. - Athletic endeavours can provide a safe space to explore suffering and resilience. - The flow state is where effortless action occurs, enhancing performance. - Recognising moments of mindfulness can lead to greater fulfillment in life. - Creating a culture of self-improvement is essential for personal development. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tom Shepherd and Mindfulness 02:37 The Importance of Mindfulness in Performance 04:32 Understanding Focus and Attention 08:48 Quality Over Quantity in Training 12:41 Practicing Mindfulness in Daily Life 15:28 The Impact of Environment on Mindfulness 20:14 Mindfulness in Martial Arts and Training 23:58 Self-Reflection and Mindfulness in Work 30:27 Finding Meaning in Activities 37:33 The Relationship Between Fun and Meaning 40:41 The Balance of Thrills and Meaning 41:28 Mindfulness and the Search for Meaning 42:15 Understanding Suffering and Its Role in Life 43:38 Facing Inner Demons for Personal Growth 45:35 Resilience Through Adversity 46:19 Meditation: Beyond Relaxation 48:53 Cultivating Focus and Mindfulness 51:42 The Importance of Non-Goal-Oriented Meditation 53:45 Finding Effortless Action in Life 55:52 The Flow State and Meaningful Action 58:43 Applying Mindfulness to Everyday Life 01:00:58 Creating Meaning Through Responsibility 01:04:10 The Necessity of Suffering for Fulfillment 01:05:31 Strength Through Suffering 01:06:17 The Future of Coaching and Self-Improvement

Summary In this episode of the OPD podcast, Joe and Austin delve into the complexities of functional health, discussing the impact of social media on health anxiety, the dangers of fear-based marketing, and the importance of understanding the root causes of symptoms. They explore how stress and anxiety can exacerbate health issues and emphasize the need for mindfulness and acceptance in managing health. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges faced by competitors in the fitness industry and the significance of education in navigating the functional health landscape. Takeaways Functional health is often misrepresented on social media.Symptoms can be exacerbated by health anxiety and stress.Fear-based marketing can lead to unnecessary health concerns.Mindfulness practices can help regulate the nervous system.Understanding the root causes of symptoms is crucial for healing.Many health issues are secondary to stress and anxiety.Competitors in fitness may face unique health challenges.It's important to avoid echo chambers in health discussions.Temporary symptom relief is not a long-term solution.Education and understanding are key in functional health. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Video Format 02:04 Exploring Functional Health and Its Misconceptions 03:28 The Role of Symptoms and Health Anxiety 05:26 The Impact of Social Media on Health Perception 07:52 The Complexity of Health Issues and Treatment Approaches 12:01 Understanding the Feedback Loop of Symptoms and Stress 14:53 The Importance of Systemic Thinking in Health 18:33 The Dangers of Fear-Based Marketing in Health 22:01 Navigating Health Information and Testing 24:49 The Role of Diet and Lifestyle in Health Management 27:55 Temporary Solutions vs. Long-Term Health Strategies 31:04 Navigating Variability in Health 34:15 Understanding Stress and Anxiety Responses 38:16 The Role of Mindfulness and Acceptance 42:04 Breaking Free from Reliance on Supplements 46:04 The Impact of Marketing on Health Perception 50:43 Trust Issues in Health Coaching 54:46 Identifying Stress as a Core Issue 57:07 Functional Health for Competitors vs. General Population

We are honoured to be joined today by the master of the neurosteroid and TRT-realm, Dave Lee, to dig into some of the more intricate discussion surrounding pregnenolone supplementation for mental health, sleep, quality of life & more. Check out Dave here: IG: @imdavelee Linktr.ee/imdavelee

Back for another IG Q&A, today we run through Joe's experience of the Arnold's, autonomic nervous system interactions with chronic illness, and a bunch of listener questions.

In this episode, Austin runs us through his most recent prep in detail, how he added a significant amount of size, how he landed peeled, and how he feels about the placings.

A long-form, open discussion on how we like to handle peak week's for a variety of classes and criteria.

Another instalment of you guys favourite! In this episode, Austin & Joe get caught up on how the competitive season is going, and some fun stuff planned for the rest of this year.

The comeback nobody was waiting for. A little rusty, probably not as funny as it used to be, but we had a blast anyway.

We are honoured this week to be joined by a true veteran of the hypertrophy realm, most well known for his pioneering of myoreps, Borge Fagerli. In this episode, we dig through the state of current hypertrophy research and how its presented on social media, what occurs in the real world, and how to autoregulate your own programming based on results. To purchase Borge's new myoreps ebook, follow this link, and use code OPD20 for 20% discount: https://www.borgefagerli.com/myo-reps-in-english

There has been a great deal of social media discussion on training frequency recently, unfortunately leading to an abundance of confusion as to whether certain higher frequency models will build more muscle than the same volume at a lower frequency, or whether frequency doesn't matter at all. Luckily, Dr Soko joins us today to clear up any and all confusion, to leave you guys with exactly what you need to know to make sure you're not leaving any stone unturned on your hypertrophy programming.

Austin & Joe look back over their careers in this episode at what they've both seen not only grow their client base, but also what has attracted the right clients, and has brought them to most happiness and fulfilment in the process.