The B.rad Podcast

The more hardcore and devoted you get to fitness, the more risk you bring that you might actually be doing things the wrong way and getting counterproductive results. In this episode, I break down 5 ways you may be screwing up your fitness goals—even if you’re consistent, disciplined, and training hard. We talk about why sleep, rest, recovery, and downtime are the foundation for everything else, why the body is a dynamic organism and not a machine you can program, and why you have to be careful about outsourcing your intuition to technology. I also dive into why VO2 max is overhyped, why zone 1 deserves more attention, how chronic cardio and narrow fitness goals can compromise longevity, and why so many people are missing the most important pieces of lifelong fitness: strength, power, and sprinting. In this episode, I reveal that the solution is simple: move frequently at a slow pace, lift regularly, and sprint occasionally. Whether you’re an athlete or someone focused on staying fit, strong, and capable throughout life, this episode will challenge how you think about training for true full-body functional fitness and longevity.   TIMESTAMPS: The more hardcore and the more serious and devoted to fitness you get, the more risk you bring in that you might be doing things the wrong way. [01:27] Everything flows downstream from getting a good night's sleep, rest and recover. The hyperconnectivity that we now experience interferes with that. [01:58] We have chronic low level stress hormone production from consuming variable digital content like text messages or scrolling through social media. [05:26] Some of us are so devoted to exercise, that we don't know that we are overdoing it. What are some of the biggest signs that we are overdoing it? [07:21] When you try to apply too much regimentation to a fitness program, you can very easily get yourself into trouble. [15:24] There is technology measureing your HRV telling you what your body is doing but don't obsess about it.  Listen to you body. [25:50] Zone one exercise is all than most people need. [30:48] Let's look at endurance training in general.  It is a very narrow sliver of total body functional fitnes. [34:55] There is a cutoff point where doing too much can put you into elevated risk for metabolic problems, including adding excess body fat and not being able to remove it. [37:47] By exercise physiology definition, anything lasting over a few minutes is strongly emphasizing the aerobic system with minimal stimulation to the anaerobic system. [41:50] The anaerobic muscle fibers are in that "use it or lose it" category. [50:52] The void of strength training and sprint training in one's program is a great way to screw up everything. [52:11] The general guideline for a great sprint workout template is four to eight reps of 10 to 20 seconds duration with a six to one recovery to work interval. [58:05]   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 NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, 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 - Save 10% The Stimulated Mind Podcast with Dr. Tommy Wood Primal Health Coach Institute.  Is VO@ Max Overated Podcast BradBeat HRV   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to podcast@bradventures.com. 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! Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD. 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! #bradpodcastSee 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 podcast@bradventures.com. 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 podcast@bradventures.com. 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 podcast@bradventures.com. 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.