Is the fitness industry lying to you? Natural athlete and top coach Ziad Mansour reveals why training every other day builds more muscle and why the most popular science-based advice might be stalling your progress.On this episode of the Becoming The 1% Podcast, Ziad Mansour joins the crew to dismantle the gimmicks and monetization corrupting online fitness. He explains his philosophy on natural development, the flaws in bad coaching, and why true strength is built by mastering your mindset, not just following trends. Ziad shares his journey from a troubled past to becoming a high-performing athlete and coach, emphasizing the power of authenticity, self-awareness, and why you must learn to be your own best trainer. This discussion provides a raw, unfiltered look at building an elite physique and an unbreakable mind.Chapters:0:00 - Why Training Every Other Day Is More Effective Than You Think 0:55 - The Problem with Mainstream Fitness Advice 1:35 - Why I Hated Online Fitness Culture 2:45 - The Dangers of Selling Your Authenticity for Money 3:45 - Why Does the Internet Reward Gimmicky Fitness Content? 5:35 - The Unspoken Truth About Bad Weight Loss Coaching 6:03 - My Coaching Philosophy: Long-Term Success Over Quick Wins 7:00 - The Critical Mistake That Stalls Fat Loss (A Client Story) 8:14 - Why Gimmicks Work: The Hard Truth About Success 9:47 - The Hidden Variables Behind Fitness Influencer Success 10:30 - My Journey: From a Troubled Past to Top-Tier Lifting 11:59 - How Childhood Trauma Shaped My Competitive Drive 13:50 - The Mindset That Made Me a High Performer in Everything 15:32 - Why You Can't Force Interest: The Key to True Passion 15:52 - What It's Like Coaching CrossFit Legend Marcus Filly 19:10 - What Does "Lifetime Natural" Actually Mean? 19:42 - The Great Debate: Is TRT Cheating or a Necessity? 21:53 - What Is a Healthy Testosterone Range for Men? 24:07 - The Hard Choice: Quick Fixes vs. Lifestyle Changes 24:49 - Why Sacrificing Your 20s Is the Secret to Lifelong Success 26:12 - Finding Yourself: Why Retreats & Psychedelics Aren't the Answer 28:32 - How to Use Psychedelics for Genuine Self-Improvement 29:42 - How to Become "Untriggerable" and Master Your Emotions 32:03 - The Single Most Optimal Thing in Fitness is Consistency 33:05 - A Social Experiment: My Response to Haters 35:46 - The "Genetics" Excuse: A Cope for Lack of Effort 37:50 - Why Your Rest Time Between Sets Is So Important 40:46 - Should You Ever Outgrow Your Coach? 42:17 - The Business of Coaching: Integrity vs. Income 44:07 - The Problem with Motivational Fitness Seminars 47:45 - The "Addiction" to Rest Days: What It Says About You 51:04 - How to Turn Your Weaknesses Into Your Greatest Strengths 52:51 - Sponsor: Superhero Training App 53:21 - Raw Lifting: Why I Don't Use Belts, Straps, or Sleeves 55:51 - Discomfort Is Just the Absence of Confidence 57:37 - The Real Fear Behind Approaching a Woman (or a New Lift) 59:25 - The Power of Your Thoughts & Overcoming Perceived Humiliation 1:00:58 - The Biomechanics of a Perfect Pull-Up for a Massive Back 1:02:46 - Natural vs. Enhanced: Can You Trust Their Techniques? 1:08:05 - The Truth About "Science-Based" Influencers on Gear 1:10:55 - How Modern Fitness Repackages Old School Knowledge 1:12:16 - The "Jeff Nippard Effect": Selling Science for Profit 1:16:15 - How to Get Coached by Ziad & His New App

How do Marvel actors get their superhero bodies? The trainer for Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) reveals the industry secrets to actor transformations, steroid use in Hollywood, and the shocking truth behind Paul Rudd’s all-natural physique.

On this episode of the Becoming The 1% Podcast, Brendan Johnston details the training, diet, and mental discipline required to build the physiques for Hollywood's biggest roles. He breaks down the real timeline it takes to achieve these results, the non-negotiable habits that separate the elite from the average, and how you can apply these principles. Discover the mindset needed to overcome genetics, the pressure actors face to maintain their roles, and the training that gets them ready for their iconic shirtless scenes.

Follow Brendan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brendanjpt/

Chapters:

0:00 Becoming The Official Trainer For Marvel

1:28 My Journey To Training Hollywood Stars

2:55 Training Scarlett Johansson

4:19 Starstruck By The Avengers?

5:24 How Long It Took To Become Marvel's Official Trainer

6:14 Why I Had No Social Media For Years

7:16 The Real Reason Actors Trust Me

8:51 Famous Trainer vs. Trainer Of Famous People

12:15 A Carpenter Is Only As Good As His Tools

14:20 How Actors Train While Filming On Set

15:52 The Insane Pressure of Hollywood Shirtless Scenes

17:35 Zac Efron's 3% Body Fat Transformation

21:22 The Most Impressive Actor Transformation I've Seen

22:24 Paul Rudd's SHOCKING All-Natural Transformation

23:34 The Power Of Non-Negotiable Habits

25:35 You're Never Too Old To Get Ripped

26:16 Why We're All Obsessed With Superhero Physiques

30:00 The Pressure To Stay In Shape For 10+ Years

30:39 Why Padded Muscle Suits Don't Work

33:19 Chris Evans Set The Bar For Superhero Bodies

35:14 Hugh Jackman's Epic 20-Year Wolverine Transformation

38:11 Our Hot Take On "Impossible Beauty Standards"

41:41 Grateful vs. Satisfied: The Mindset of Champions

43:10 The Actor Who Was Already A MONSTER In The Gym

46:46 This Is How You Make The Gym A Habit

50:10 The Unbelievable Strength of a UFC Champion

53:14 The "Crazy" Mindset You NEED To Be A Champion

55:19 How To Compartmentalize Your Life For Success

59:01 Using Fitness To Show A Character's Growth

1:01:22 How Long It REALLY Takes To Get Back In Shape

1:03:24 The One Marvel Actor I Still Want To Train

1:05:14 The Truth About Steroids In Hollywood

1:09:26 The REAL Reason Actors Won't Admit To Steroid Use

1:12:31 Why It's DANGEROUS For Actors To Hide Steroid Use From Trainers

1:15:33 This Is Why Most People Will Never Get Jacked

1:20:59 The Downfall of The Liver King

1:24:21 The Next Marvel Actor I Want To Train

1:26:55 Do Actors Know The Plot Of The Movies?

1:29:15 How Tom Holland Became Spider-Man

1:32:32 Why I'm NOT Allowed On Set During Filming

1:35:13 The Insane Method Acting of Jared Leto

1:41:28 The Dark Side of Being Famous

1:45:20 The #1 Mistake Fans Make When Approaching Celebrities

1:50:21 The Future of Celebrity Training Facilities

Are athletes really ditching the barbell squat for belt squats? On this episode of the Becoming The 1% Podcast, we sit down with Brian Henesey, the creator of SquatMax MD, to explore how this innovative piece of equipment is transforming athletic performance, improving knee health, and reducing injury risks. From NFL contracts to overcoming paralysis and designing cutting-edge products, Brian shares his incredible journey and mission to reshape strength training.

We discuss how SquatMax MD helps athletes develop explosive power, optimize biomechanics, and train smarter for long-term success. This episode dives into the science behind belt squats, ACL injury prevention, and why proper weight progression matters for injury-free strength gains.