CLICK HERE for James' webstie

What if your watch could tell you when your set actually triggered muscle growth? We sit down with designer-turned-founder James Blake to explore how heartbreak, grit, and a lifetime of making useful things led to a new wearable that detects hypertrophy so you can stop guessing and start progressing with confidence.

James’ path is anything but linear: car design in the Bay Area, yacht projects in Miami, medical devices, and a turn into UX after building a language app to help his Native American children learn their heritage without written records. That project expanded to the Gathering of the Tribes and helped preserve dozens of languages. The same human-centered approach now powers his fitness tech: a watch and app that read the signals that matter for building muscle, making intensity visible for lifters who train alone, rebuild after trauma, or just want proof their effort counts.

We unpack how this tool differs from recovery-focused wearables, why so many people undertrain without realizing it, and how a real research partnership with Wartburg College is shaping validation, age adjustments, and user testing. James shares the pilot plan with the Country Club of Leawood, an unexpected early signal related to migraines, and a product philosophy that favors empowerment over subscriptions. The brand name—AONAR, Gaelic for lone wolf, resilience, and strength—reflects the mindset of showing up when life is heavy and the gym is your refuge.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated on the gym floor, you’ll hear practical encouragement and a simple truth: most people are in their own head, not judging you. Come for the story of resilience; stay for the science of training smarter. Subscribe, share this with a friend who lifts, and leave a review to help more people find tools that turn hard seasons into strength.

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