Fahad sits down with Matt Peele—corrective exercise specialist, sports performance coach, author of Athlete in the Game of Life, and host of The Peele Appeal Podcast – for a mind-opening conversation on the hidden dangers of our sedentary modern lives. From endless desk sitting and long commutes to smartphone hunching, Matt explains how prolonged sitting can reshape our posture, weaken key muscles, and even impact brain function. He breaks down muscle imbalances, the power of complex movements for cognition, why exercise boosts learning and decision-making, and simple fixes anyone can do at their desk to fight back against the “new smoking” – sitting.

• Sitting is the new smoking: 10–16+ hours a day of sitting (desk, commute, couch) shortens hip flexors/abs and weakens glutes/hamstrings, leading to poor posture and chronic pain.

• The body “remodels” itself: Prolonged positions become your new “normal,” pulling joints out of alignment and creating muscle imbalances.

• Fix it with the right approach: Stretch what’s tight (hip flexors, quads, chest) and strengthen what’s weak (glutes, hamstrings, upper back).

• Exercise supercharges your brain:

• Complex movements build cognition: Multi-joint exercises (squats, deadlifts, presses) under moderate stress create neuroplasticity and grow cells in the hippocampus.

• Warning signs: Chronic low back/knee pain, inability to squat properly, or getting winded easily are red flags it’s time to act.

• Kids need movement too: Cutting recess and PE hurts focus and learning – physical activity makes brains ready to absorb complex info.

00:00 – Exercise Primes the Brain for Learning (and Why Schools Are Getting It Wrong)

00:41 – Welcome to the Energy Podcast + Intro to Matt Peele

04:08 – Matt’s Journey: From Marketing to Fitness Industry Since 2008

06:55 – The Spark Behind Writing Athlete in the Game of Life

08:32 – What’s Inside the Book: Aging, Posture, and Corrective Fixes

09:29 – The Reality of Sedentary Jobs (Cubicles, Driving, Commutes)

11:23 – How Sitting Remodels Your Body and Creates Muscle Imbalances

13:36 – Personalized Assessments and Fixing Individual Posture Issues

16:24 – Real Client Success Story: Transforming Pain and Mobility in Retirement

18:03 – Postural Problems Showing Up Earlier (Even in 20s) Due to Tech

20:41 – Athletes & Lifters Aren’t Immune – Common Mistakes Even Fit People Make

25:33 – Sports Performance Training for Executives: Boosting Cognition & Decision-Making

30:25 – The Science: How Exercise Builds Brain Cells & Neuroplasticity

33:42 – Easy Starter Moves for Desk Workers (Sit-to-Stands, Desk Push-Ups)

35:50 – Final Thoughts + Where to Find Matt’s Resources

36:31 – Plugs: Book, Podcast, Website & Socials

• Matt’s book Athlete in the Game of Life – available on Amazon (paperback, Kindle, and audiobook narrated by Matt) • Online programs & resources – mattpeale.com (check “I’m tired of being in pain” or the 10-Minute Professional series: Stretch/Strengthen at Your Desk) • The Peele Appeal Podcast – wherever you get podcasts (Fahad was on Episode 101!) • Follow Matt: Instagram @mattpeelces, LinkedIn, Facebook (Athlete in the Game of Life), TikTok @strengthenatyourdesk • Energy Pods & CocoZen – kgfoodco.com (perfect desk-friendly fuel to power your movement breaks)