In this episode, Jon sits down with Erikka Trotter—licensed therapist, competitive bodybuilder, and NPC champion—to unpack the powerful connection between mindset, fitness, and everyday life. Erikka shares her story of growing up in a chaotic environment, building stability for her family, and rising to success as both a therapist and athlete.

We cover:

• How her background shaped her drive for consistency and discipline

• Why mindset is the key to sustainable weight loss and lifestyle change

• Common misconceptions about bodybuilding and mental health

• Strategies for raising healthy kids and modeling balance at home

• Practical tips for staying on track during travel and vacations

Whether you’re a parent, athlete, or someone seeking lasting transformation, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible when mindset meets discipline.

In this episode, Jon sits down with elite powerlifter and coach Aaron Chapple. Aaron recently set a world record in the Masters 40–44, 220-lb class—and he’s here to talk strength, hypertrophy, training intensity, and the reality behind performance and health goals.

They break down:

• The difference between training for health vs. optimal performance

• Whether deadlifts are worth it for hypertrophy

• How to train smart with long femurs (and other biomechanical quirks)

• Powerbuilding vs. strict strength or bodybuilding splits

• How to know when you need a deload—or when you just need to train harder

• The mindset and structure needed to push past plateaus

• The role of TRT, long-term thinking, and sustainable transformation

This is a deep dive for lifters who want to train hard, train smart, and keep progressing—no matter their season of life.

In this episode, I sit down with Anthony Diehl—founder of Modus Coaching, former America's Strongest Man, and current competitive bodybuilder—for an unfiltered conversation on strength, health, and longevity.

We cover:

• How Anthony went from overweight college kid to pro
• StrongmanWhy he transitioned from Strongman to bodybuilding
• The Modus philosophy: health starts at the cellular level
• Real talk on TRT, stress, and low testosterone in men (especially pastors)
• How to train smart based on your season and goals
• The trap of dogmatic fitness trends
• His take on modern health movements and personal responsibility

Anthony shares practical, no-BS coaching wisdom from over a decade of experience working with lifestyle clients, competitors, and everyone in between. If you’re looking for clarity, performance, and long-term results, this episode will hit.

In this episode, Jon sits down with Steve Hall—founder of Revive Stronger and WNBF Pro Natural Bodybuilder—to unpack what it really takes to get stage-lean without PEDs. They dive into Steve’s powerful story of recovery after a life-threatening injury, how bodybuilding gave him control over his life, and the mental toughness it builds. You’ll hear practical insights on:

• How long natural fat loss really takes

• Why peak week can break your physique if done wrong

• What most people miss in muscle retention during cuts

• Training and nutrition strategies to maintain muscle deep into a deficit

• The psychological edge of lifting through chaos

Whether you're a serious trainee or just curious about the process behind stage-level conditioning, this episode is packed with insight and hard-earned wisdom.

Apply for coaching with Steve Hall here:
👉 revivestronger.com/online-coaching

Spots are limited—get personalized guidance from a WNBF Pro.

In this episode, we sit down with Grace Wilhite, who holds a master's degree in nutrition and works alongside her husband, Ryan, to help clients achieve optimal health and fitness. While Ryan focuses on strength training, Grace specializes in nutrition, with a particular passion for the connection between mental health and what we eat.

In her book, Grace explores how nutrition therapy can be a powerful tool in managing anxiety and improving overall mental well-being. She shares her personal journey of overcoming gut health issues that once impacted her emotional state, leading her to dive deeper into the science of the brain-gut axis.

In our conversation, we discuss the importance of balanced nutrition, managing blood sugar levels, and ensuring we get the right macro and micronutrients. Grace's insights highlight how small changes in our diet can have a profound impact on our mental health.

You can book a free consultation with Grace at https://wellnessbywilhites.com/

Here is a link to her ebook: https://wellnessbywilhites.com/product/nutrition-for-mental-health-anxiety/

Can you really build muscle after 40? Absolutely—but the game changes. In this episode, we break down how aging affects protein synthesis, recovery, and hormones, and what you can do to adapt. You’ll learn practical strategies for training smarter in your 40s, 50s, and 60s, how to optimize protein intake, and what recovery looks like when your body doesn't bounce back like it used to. We also share real-world tips for progressive overload, joint care, and the role of supplements. Whether you're just starting or looking to maintain your edge, this episode shows you what still works—and what you need to change.

In Episode 36, strength coach Ryan Wilhite shares his journey into strength training and how it’s shaped both his personal and professional life. He talks about training alongside his wife, who’s also a nutritionist and trainer, and what it really means to pursue health and fitness in a holistic, sustainable way. Ryan breaks down his approach to programming—whether he leans more toward linear or undulating progression—and how much volume and frequency he recommends for building strength. He highlights key lessons from his own experience, the biggest mistakes lifters make, and how he personally balances heavy lifting with injury prevention and long-term health. Ryan also shares his nutritional strategy for maximizing strength and offers practical advice for anyone interested in getting started in strength sports. This episode is packed with straightforward insight to help you build strength that lasts.

Many lifters believe they must choose between strength and hypertrophy training, but the truth is that both are essential for maximizing muscle size and strength. In this episode, Jon, Than, AJ, and David break down the key differences between these training styles and how to strategically combine them for optimal gains.

Key Topics Covered:

• Strength vs. Hypertrophy Training: Understanding how rep ranges, load, and training intensity impact muscle growth and strength development.
• Hybrid Training & Trade-Offs: The pros and cons of mixing strength and hypertrophy work and how to structure training effectively.
• The “Bro Science” of Rep Ranges: Debunking myths and explaining why failure and progressive overload matter more than arbitrary rep counts.
• Phased Potentiation: How cycling between strength and hypertrophy-focused training phases leads to long-term progress and prevents plateaus.

Takeaways:

• Strength and hypertrophy are not mutually exclusive—both should be programmed strategically.
• Rep ranges matter less than training intensity and proximity to failure.
• Periodization (alternating phases of strength and hypertrophy training) is the best approach for continuous growth.

Tune in to learn how to build a training plan that gets you as strong and jacked as possible while avoiding common mistakes.