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Personal trainer Brendan Copley and mental performance consultant Arianna Martignetti team up once again to discuss the effects of stress on cardiac health. In recognition of heart health month, they shed light behind some of the science on how stress interacts with the cardiovascular system and provide education on stress so that you can increase your ability in managing or having more control over it. Brendan and Arianna delve into defining both normal healthy cardiovascular health and abnormal cardiovascular health, explore the definitions and responses to stress, and examine how mental well-being can affect cardiovascular health. They also discuss physiological and mental ways individuals experience stress, methods to manage and relieve stress, including exercise, meditation, and breathwork, and the associations of chronic stress with cardiovascular health.

On the final episode of our Marathon Monday mini-series, 5x Boston Marathon Division Winner Heather Pech joins the podcast to talk about her training process and how she keeps winning gold. Hosts physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley, who are marathoners themselves, discussed what exactly makes Heather such a successful runner — from her nutrition to mentality, Heather breaks down everything that makes her a world record holder.

On the latest episode of our mini-series, Marathon Mondays, physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copely are joined by Megan Searfoss, owner of Ridgefield/Darien Running Company. They discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of running: finding the right pair of shoes for you. Megan dives into the fitting process that includes a 3D scanner, detailing why the brand and type of shoe matters for the wearer. The trio also discuss the latest trends in footwear, including carbon plating, as well shoe life expectancy and how to deal with companies updating your favorite pair of running shoes.

In the third episode of our Marathon Monday series, physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley dive into the world of mental performance with Arianna Martignetti, Ed.D., who completed her doctorate in sport and performance psychology. Long distance running is not just a physical activity, but a mental one as well. In this episode, Arianna discusses how to work through negative self-talk, pace management, race-day jitters, visualizations to promote confidence, and  daily mental strategies to promote peak performance, among other topics.

This is the second episode of our series, Marathon Mondays, aimed to prepare runners at all experience levels for their next race, hosted by marathoners themselves: physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley.  In this episode, Britt and Brendan interview nutritionist Ashley Jerry, who also has a background in personal training. They discuss how to fuel your body during different portions of your training plan, hydration dos and don'ts, as well as pre, during, and post-race nutrition tips. They also dive into the importance of carbohydrates, as well as common causes of GI distress during a run.

This is the first episode of our new series, Marathon Mondays, aimed to prepare runners at all experience levels for their next race, hosted by marathoners themselves: physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley.  In this introductory episode, Britt and Brendan dig into what you should be looking for in a thorough training program, answer frequently asked questions, and debunk common myths. They cover developing a personalized training plan, the importance of different types of runs, how to incorporate strength training, and more.

Heart disease has become the leading cause of mortality for both men and women in the U.S. Listen to physical therapist Shane Foley and nutritionist Francine Blinten discuss proven strategies to maximize your "health span." From establishing cardiovascular and lean muscle mass baselines to understanding the role your diet plays in maintaining heart health, there are a variety of aspects that can help you prevent — and even manage — heart disease.

Dr. Alon Gitig joins host Michael Beecher to discuss preventing and managing cardiovascular disease through the lens of body composition and insulin resistance. They dive into the relationship between muscle mass, body composition, and cardiovascular health, as well as insulin resistance, the silent epidemic behind cardiovascular disease and dementia. Dr. Alon Gitig, MD, is a cardiologist based in Yonkers, New York who has been practicing for over two decades. He is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital.

With many healthcare practitioners leaving the system and costs increasingly rising, many people are questioning whether our healthcare system is working. These issues affect not just the uninsured who can't afford the care they need, but the average person who can't see a doctor without waiting months, and even the healthcare practitioners themselves, many of whom are experiencing extraordinarily high caseloads. But at the same time, the rate of innovation in the healthcare system has never been higher, with new life-saving treatments and medications being developed at a rate never seen before. Dr. Caleb Moore, MD, joins Todd Wilkowski, PT, to discuss the pros and cons of the healthcare system we have today — and some possible solutions to solve some of the issues the system experiences. Dr. Caleb Moore is a highly experienced concierge internal medicine physician who practices at Greenwich Medical Partners. He specializes in acute care management, chronic care management, preventive medicine, and travel medicine.

While sports psychology and mental performance consulting has been on the rise in the athletic world in recent years, it is important to remember that athletes are not the only people who benefit. From physicians to CEOs, young professionals to entrepreneurs, mental strength can make or break a career. In this episode, Mike is joined by Arianna Martignetti, Ed.D., and Adam Wright, Ph.D., to discuss the importance of mental performance consulting for athletes and non-athletes alike.  Adam and Arianna explore how they help their clients strengthen mental skills, learn how to use stress management tools, and work with trainers, nutritionists and more to improve their mental and physical performance, both on the field and in the workplace.

While golf is an outdoor season, successful, injury-free golfers should not limit their play to the warmer months. From continuing to practice on a golf simulator to maintaining a proper diet and training regimen, there is a lot that can be done to stay in form. Without those things, there 's a good chance that the next time you step on the green, you don't play as well or even come away with an injury. This time, Mike is joined by Adam Rainaud, the head golf professional at the Country Club of New Canaan and multiple-time PGA tour champion, to discuss how to successfully transition from the off-season and onto the green.

Like clockwork, many set New Year's resolutions each January, only to find that achieving it was much harder than they initially thought. The culprit? Not necessarily the goal, but the timeline. Success is not black and white, and looking at it that way can be demoralizing when you're behind on your goals. In this episode, Mike is joined by Mike Ranfone to discuss why goals fail — and how to make actually achieve them, giving success a whole new definition. Mike Ranfone is a trainer and owner of Ranfone Training Systems based in Hamden, CT. Check out Mike's gym here, and you can follow him on Instagram at @ranfonetraining.