Episode Description & Show Notes:

In this episode of Beast of Burden, Paul Bassett tackles the hidden habit that keeps so many people stuck in the cycle of failed fitness attempts: the “Monday restart.” From the guilt of falling off track to the false hope of fresh starts, Paul explains why this mindset sabotages progress and erodes self-trust.

You’ll learn:

Why the Monday restart keeps you trapped in a loop

The difference between dogmatic fitness systems and principle-based habits

How guilt, shame, and comparison damage consistency

Why recovery and resilience matter more than perfection

Practical strategies like planning obstacles, celebrating micro-wins, and reframing “failure” as feedback

Along the way, Paul shares stories from clients who have bounced back from setbacks — from injuries to major life challenges — proving that real change comes from systems, skills, and support rather than all-or-nothing thinking.

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🔗 Links & Extras

Submit your questions for the podcast: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk

Learn more about our training approach: www.houndsofhealth.co.uk

Follow on Instagram: @houndsofhealth

📝 Episode Description

In this episode of Beast of Burden, Paul answers a listener's question:

Why is strength training so effective for getting in shape—and how does it compare to other popular forms of exercise like running, CrossFit, and Hyrox?

With decades of personal experience, Paul unpacks the real reason we train, the key differences between sport, exercise, and training, and what most people get wrong when choosing how to get in shape.

Whether you're a runner, lifter, weekend sweat junkie or just starting out, this episode gives you a framework to decide what method fits your goals, lifestyle, and time.

📄 Show Notes

🔑 In This Episode:

The difference between sport, training, and exercise

Why most people are solving the wrong problem with the wrong tool

What strength training does that other methods don’t

Where running, CrossFit, and Hyrox fit into the fitness picture

Why hypertrophy and hormonal response matter more than calorie burn

Strength as a shortcut to a better body, especially for busy professionals

How to pick your modality based on your actual desired outcome

What “structure” and “consistency” mean in real-world training

🔗 Links & Extras

Submit your questions for the podcast: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk

Learn more about our training approach: www.houndsofhealth.co.uk

Follow on Instagram: @houndsofhealth

📄 Show Notes for Episode 6:

Episode 6: Accountability — Why You Won’t Reach Your Goals Without It

In this episode of Beast of Burden, Paul Bassett takes a deep dive into the real driver behind long-term results: accountability. With all the free information in the world — workouts, meal plans, and expert tips just a click away — most people still fall short because they’re not being held to their commitments.

Paul explains what accountability really means, why it’s often uncomfortable, and how it separates those who achieve their goals from those who drift back into old habits. He shares the systems his team uses to keep clients on track, the common roadblocks that derail progress, and the role of both encouragement and tough questions in creating lasting change.

If you’ve ever started with the best intentions but lost momentum — or wondered why “going it alone” rarely works — this episode will show you how to put the right structures in place and stick to them.

🔑 In This Episode:

1. Why more information won’t solve your problem
2. What accountability really is — and isn’t
3. How to uncover your true “why” and turn it into action
4. The most common obstacles that throw people off track
5. The balance between cheerleader and challenger in coaching
6. Why low attendance is the biggest warning sign
7. How to have uncomfortable conversations that spark progress
8. The systems and check-ins that keep people on track long term

📩 Ask Paul a Question or Share This Podcast

Have a topic you'd like Paul to explore? Email: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk

Enjoying the show? Please subscribe, review, and share it with someone who needs it.

In this episode of Beast of Burden, Paul tackles one of the most common questions in training:

How do you know if what you’re feeling is just DOMS… or something more serious?

This is essential listening for anyone who’s started training (or restarted after a break), and finds themselves unsure whether to keep going, slow down, or stop altogether.

🎧 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to tell the difference between delayed onset muscle soreness, strain, and injury
• Why most beginners mistake discomfort for danger
• The role of planned progression in reducing risk
• How to use pain signals wisely (and when to seek help)
• Why “just doing a session” can do more harm than good
• The difference between rest days and active recovery (and which one you actually need)
• Why working with a coach changes everything — from confidence to consistency
• Whether you’re brand new to the gym or returning after a long break, this episode is your guide to navigating those early weeks and learning how to train smart.

🔗 Links & Resources

Learn more about Hounds of Health: www.houndsofhealth.co.uk

Want to ask a question for the show? Email: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk

Follow on Instagram: @houndsofhealth

In this episode of Beast of Burden, Paul Bassett explores the real reason people don’t commit to fitness programs, they don’t trust themselves to follow through.

Paul unpacks what confidence really is, why most people never build it, and how success in fitness comes not from motivation but from repetition, structure, and support. Drawing on real coaching conversations and his own recent experience learning to rollerblade (badly), he shares how being a beginner again creates the humility and insight needed to grow.

If you’ve ever doubted whether you’ll stick with a program or wondered why some people thrive and others stall — this episode explains exactly how to build lasting confidence from the ground up.

🔑 In This Episode:

Why motivation fades and momentum matters more

The hidden reason people don’t commit to change

How high achievers struggle with being beginners

Why competence — not hype — is the key to confidence

The role of community and coaching in consistent success

What to do if you’ve “failed before” and don’t trust yourself to succeed

📩 Ask Paul a Question or Share This Podcast

Have a topic you'd like Paul to explore? Email: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk

Enjoying the show? Please subscribe, review, and share it with someone who needs it.

In this episode of Beast of Burden, Paul Bassett explores one of the most common obstacles to progress in fitness (and life): not feeling like it. Whether it's a bad night’s sleep, stress from work, or just low motivation, most people wait for the "right feeling" to act and never do.

Paul breaks down how feelings can be misleading, how to use them as information (not instruction), and why successful people act based on commitment, not mood. He shares stories from his clients, his own life as a father and business owner, and explains how to create the mental framework that separates those who succeed from those who stay stuck.

• Why your feelings aren't facts and how to stop being ruled by them
• The difference between action-takers and those who wait for motivation
• What successful clients do when they “don’t feel like it”
• How to use feelings as part of your decision-making not your decision-maker
• Why having a want that’s stronger than your mood changes everything
• How to overcome emotional decision-making in fitness and business

Got a topic or a problem you'd like covered in a future episode?

Email: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk

www.houndsofhealth.co.uk

In this episode of Beast of Burden, Paul Bassett tackles a common question in the modern fitness world: should I be using wearable fitness tech? From Whoop straps to Apple Watches, heart rate monitors to step counters. Paul shares what’s useful, what’s not, and why too much data can be a distraction.

But this episode isn’t just about gadgets it’s about clarity. Paul breaks down why a well-written plan, followed with consistency, still beats all the high-tech noise. He discusses how tracking only matters if it leads to action, and how the most successful clients aren’t the ones with the best kit they’re the ones who stay focused.

• Why fitness tech isn’t the silver bullet
• The danger of passive tracking and constant data
• What most successful clients actually do
• How to use simple tools like spreadsheets, tape measures, and a training plan effectively
• Paul’s experience with Whoop and why he stopped using it
• How to avoid the “data trap” and focus on execution

“You don’t need to track everything. You need to act on what matters.”

Email in with your own questions and topics you’d like covered on the show: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk

In this first episode of Beast of Burden, host Paul Bassett, founder of Hounds of Health, lays out the foundation for the show and for the mindset needed to thrive under pressure.

Paul shares his personal journey: from being unfit and overwhelmed in the music industry to building a life around strength, structure, and service. He explores the concept of Unique Ability (inspired by coach Dan Sullivan), and how discovering yours can be the turning point in your life and work.

This is a podcast for people who carry a lot — in work, life, and responsibility — and want to build the strength to keep going, not escape.

In This Episode:

Why the answer isn’t to do less, but to get stronger

The danger of coasting and being sideswiped by life

How anxiety often stems from inaction and unfamiliarity

The power of taking action in safe, structured environments

Why identifying your Unique Ability is a game-changer

Lessons from helping musicians and clients believe in a better future

Key Quote:

“What I realised I was good at — throughout my career — was getting people to believe that the future is possible.”

Resources Mentioned:

Dan Sullivan and the Unique Ability concept

Hounds of Health: www.houndsofhealth.co.uk

📩 Have a Question or Topic You Want Covered?

Email Paul directly at: info@houndsofhealth.co.uk