Three years ago, I had no idea how long this podcast would last. And I sure as hell had no idea what starting this show would actually accomplish. Over the last three years, I've made friendships and networked with people who have made me a better writer, coach, and human being. To all those who have been guests on this show, thank you. To all the friends I've made over the last three years, I'm grateful you are now a part of my life. But most importantly, to all of you who have listened to every episode, thank you. Thank you for listening to my rambling, for checking out some of the fitness people I've interviewed, and for being a part of this wild ride. I am sad that this is the end of this podcast.  But that doesn't mean it can't be resurrected some day; Superman, Captain America, and even Spider-Man have come back from the dead. So who knows? I am a writer. And that's what I've discovered while doing this podcast and starting Side Quest Fitness. And I must do what I feel I am the strongest at: bleeding on the page and writing.  

Side Quest Podcast

The Death of Side Quest

In the 2nd to last episode ever, Rog Law comes on the show to dive into the deep shit of life. We talk DBZ, comics, video games, and the importance of showing up.

Rog Law on The Importance of "Showing Up," & Why Krillin is the Hero of DBZ

In one of the final episodes of Side Quest Podcast, I interview Tom Mullen of Washed Up Emo about all things emo. Tom has written a book about those first few years of emo and packed with tons of interviews from some of the pioneers of emo. Grab it here.

Tom Mullen of Washed Up Emo on The History of Emo & Life in the Music Business

In January of 2017, Brandon reached out to me about coaching. He had just lost a ton of weight via a weight loss competition at work, but he was weak; he had lost his way around the weight room. His goal: lose enough body fat, and building enough lean muscle so that he'd have the confidence to rip his shirt off on stage and strip. (As a character he calls "The Cock Knight.") So Brandon applied for coaching, began his journey, and since January, he's: Lost more than 20 pounds of fat; Gained over 10 pounds of lean muscle; Added more than 2 inches to his shoulders; and, Erased 5.5 inches off his waist But more importantly than all that, Brandon has found a passion for fitness. So much so that he has toyed with the idea of getting certified to be a trainer. And, he even bought The Bible, aka, Arnold's The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. Over the last year, Brandon has gained massive amounts of strength as well. But he's also discovered that this journey has taught him to be easier on himself; to not be his own worst critic. In this episode, we discuss: What life was like before joining my coaching program How lifting has helped his quality of life as he ages steps he’s taken to heal injuries and prevent fear from taking over & stopping him from exercising Why he stuck with it this time, and recognized his own faults Staying dedicated to the cause The story of Cock Knight Being his own worst critic What he would tell his past self What he loved most about online training Living that life and what it means to him How getting in shape has helped his quality of life What he would tell anyone about online training 

Brandon Ridner on Losing Over 20+ pounds of fat, Gaining 10+ Pounds of Lean Muscle, & How Lifting Improved His Quality of Life.

Mike Doehla founded Stronger U with the sole focus of helping people improve. Mike noticed the extremes people went to in order to reach their goals. But he found that most never saw what they wanted, and he knew there had to be a better way. Stronger U's program was created for those looking for a refreshing approach to nutrition. Mike and his team “reverse engineered” the entire process of dieting. By researching the reasons "most" diets fail, Mike and his team decided to do the opposite—get people results that stick. Their program is an experience unlike anything that's ever done before. But their methods aren't some new made up form of crap. They're realistic, educational, measurable, and community driven. In this episode we discuss: Why it’s hard to pull away and take time off Kmart Huskey section Mike’s story of how he got fit Did things long enough to see them NOT work, not long enough to see them work The importance of putting yourself in other peoples shoes Moments of hypocrisy His vacation to Hawaii Soft core vs hardcore eating like an asshole What spurred him to create StrongerU Doing what you want to do Wasting time working towards things that are really stupid Stepping back from the stress of being a business owner Being available and present Fun questions Fidget spinners The future of Facebook Building a house What makes him smile Difference between living and existing How he’d get away with murder What he nerds out about Star Wars nerd out 

Mike Doehla of Stronger U on Moments of Hypocrisy, Softcore vs Hardcore Eating Like an Asshole, & Star Wars

Joel H. Cohen is a Canadian writer who has written for Saturday Night Live, Suddenly Susan and The Simpsons. He penned the famous season three episode of "Flaming Moe's." Joel received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 from the University of Alberta. He was born in Calgary. Outside of writing for "The Simpsons", he's also the author of the best-selling book "How to Lose a Marathon"  — a hilarious retelling of Joel's training for and running the NY Marathon. In this episode, we discuss: 2013 NYC Marathon…the documentation Getting off the couch (an idiots guide) Post-Marathon contemplation…what just happened? How to keep going? Inspirations Self Reflection, what did I learn about this process? How to prepare for the marathon. What is the next challenge? Time travel and sculling and coxswains (pronounced cock son!) Favorite Video Games “Less velour” Running motivations as applied to life “The Simpsons” (Yes, admit you sung that) and keeping it fresh 

Joel Cohen on How to Lose a Marathon & Writing for The Simpsons

A short episode, all about the one question I've been asking myself for months: where do we go from here?

Where Do We Go From Here?

It's that time of year again. No, it's not the end of summer. Well, it kind of is. But that's not what I'm talking about.  Nope, this is the time of the year where my good friend Jason Helmes returns to the podcast and catches us up on what he's been up to. Jason was one of my first guests on the podcast nearly three years ago, and then he came back on in 2015, and again in 2016. This year, however, Jason and I dive into what his life has been like after he retired from teaching, and how he's adjusted to the life of an entrepreneur. We dive into how his life has improved, what new struggles he's taken on, and what he's done to make life less stressful. At the end, we also dive into some deeply personal things and discuss marriage, masculinity, and how his mom taught him about sex. In this episode we discuss: Daily Schedules and calendars Turning off notification What it’s like in New York City Quitting teaching and going full-time with online coaching Mindset shifts he made as an entrepreneur Finding balance with work and family What he learned being not being present mentally with his children Masculinity, gender roles, and lessons men can learn in their 30s Sex lessons from his mom For more on Jason head here.

Jason Helmes on Quitting Teaching, Mindset Shifts, & Sex Education from his Mom

John Fawkes used to be shy, scrawny, and scared. Now he's a fitness coach who turns science geeks into ripped, sexy beasts. When he's not pumping iron or answering emails, he's usually singing karaoke, playing Dungeons & Dragons (as a wizard, obviously), studying martial arts or eating ice cream.   Last year, John traveled all over the world for 9-months living the nomad lifestyle. He returned home to the US and now lives in San Francisco, CA.  John has written for sites like The Observer, MyFitnessPal, Roman Fitness Systems, and many more. Click here to join John's free recomp program and download his Habit Change Cheat Sheet.     In this episode, we discuss: Growing up in Southern CA Being a science geek Technology assisted meditation Brain waves Going out in San Francisco How he got into fitness Make Your 30s Better than Your 20s 30-Day Challenge If something is easy for you work on it a little. If it’s something that’s hard for you, work on it a lot - Buddhist Proverb What he learned traveling the world for 9 months Making changes to your fitness regiment when life gets hectic Do what you can instead of doing nothing Creating knowledge and wisdom Fun questions What he’s nerding out on Patrick Rothfuss What got him into the world of nerd Journey (the video game) 

John Fawkes on What He Learned Traveling the World for 9 Months & Being a Science Geek

This is from Wikipedia:   [Anagnorisis] is a moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant recognition in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for. Anagnorisis was the hero's sudden awareness of a real situation, the realization of things as they stood, and finally, the hero's insight into a relationship with an often antagonistic character in the Aristotelian tragedy. When it comes to our own lives, we all deal with these discoveries. But what happens next—the choices you make—determine your outcome. And when it comes to finding motivation, reconnecting to your WHY, and looking back at your anagnorisis moment can help you push onward.

Anagnorisis: The Hero's Discovery

Jay Ashman, a former multi-sport athlete—baseball, football, basketball, tennis, soccer, swimming, and more—became a rugby player after a failed NFL tryout. During his time playing rugby, Jay played for Reading Rugby, Long Island RFC, and Old Blue Superleague. In 2009, though, he decided to call it quits. From there, Jay Ashman turned to a career in fitness. He was a PT manager in NYC at Equinox and he worked in Long Island at Big Al’s Fitness. He was also the former Director of Athletics at Gorilla Pit in Mentor, OH and the Head Strength Coach at BrewHouse Barbell in OKC. He's also the former Director of Athletics at Gorilla Pit in Mentor, OH and the Head Strength Coach at BrewHouse Barbell in OKC. Currently, he works at City Gym in Kansas City where he trains athletes and non-athletes who want to look their best. During his years as a strength coach, Jay's worked with professional men and women who've played professional sports. And he consults with rugby players nationwide, while also coaching the Liberty High School rugby team in KC. In his spare time he, along with his new wife Sarah, enjoy discovering new places to eat in downtown KC, dealing with their passive-aggressive dog, Lily, and pretending to be hipsters. In this episode we discuss: The most hipster thing he does What city he wants to spend more time in Expensive places to live Living in NYC Meeting Harvey Keitel & celebrities in NYC Playing rugby The brotherhood of rugby What he would tell men in their 30s to make it the best decade possible Where he’d go in a time machine What Star Wars character he’d love to see get a movie Sith Code His man crush How to improve sex with your partner Failed relationships and what he learned Learning to love himself 

Jay Ashman on Playing Rugby, Failed Relationships, & Improving Sex with Your Partner

hey say it’s important to reflect on your birthday; to ponder what you’ve learned during your latest orbit around the sun and to contemplate how you can make the future better. Well, I don’t know who the hell “they” are, or why they’re telling me that I should do anything on my birthday other than eat ice cream, play video games, and drink whiskey. But fuck looking back, I’m looking forward. (To the steak I’m going to eat and the sex I’ll be having with my wife.) Pfft, who am I kidding, of course I’m going to look back. I'm an introspective kinda guy. And it’s fun to imagine traveling through time to deliver messages to younger versions of Robbie Farlow. So if I could travel through a wormhole and deliver some life lessons to the younger, dumber, and far less attractive version(s) of myself, what life lessons would I attempt to upload and save in my adolescent cranium? Originally, this article started as a letter to my younger self. But that quickly (d)evolved into a listicle. Because, a) people like lists. And, b) the future is on mobile and I’m trying to crush that game early on. So since it's my 31st birthday, and I'm doing what “they” suggest, which is really an excuse for me to attempt to leave a mark on the world should I cease to live in 2017 and humanity is denied witnessing another four or five decades of my wisdom, here are the 61 Life Lessons I Would Deliver to Younger Versions of Me (And Wisdom You'll Find Useful as Well).

61 Life Lessons I Would Deliver to Younger Versions of Me (And Wisdom You'll Find Useful as Well)

Nick Sorrell is a Strength and Nutrition Coach based out of Louisville, KY. Nick spends his time getting people lean, writing nonsensical content on his website, and occasionally intercepting a pass or two. Nick has been a guest on the show numerous times. But this is the first time in over two years that he's been on the show without other guests. We dive into a ton of deep stuff in this episode. And I will warn you: you may get burned listening to this. Nick has a big heart, but he's not afraid to drop the truth when it needs to be said. In this episode we discuss: Overthinking shit The importance of ritual Worrying about the wrong things Quest Hero bars Getting caught up in the flashy Lack of action, not knowledge is keeping you from achieving your goals Spinning his wheels The tipping point that got his health back on track Put up with the suck, then be something he doesn’t want to be Getting lucky, and being grateful for not wasting his opportunities Wanting things versus making them happen (Carolina Blue Dream) 9 Things Out of Diet and Exercise that You Won’t Get Telling yourself that you can’t achieve what you want Using outliers to validate your issues Jordan Peterson and the dragon Words we mess up spelling all the time Dying unhappy Why he struggles to write Being a dreamer by nature The story of Cain and Abel, and the power of sacrifice The x-factor that the most successful clients have that others don’t Where you are in life is your fault 

Nick Sorrell on Spinning His Wheels, Being a Dreamer by Nature, & Why Where You are in Life is Your Fault

This is the audio version of a Facebook Live I did on May 23, 2017.

Four Fitness Myths That Need to Die

There are very few people in the fitness industry who get my dick hard every time they write something new. Aadam Ali, is one of those guys. He also happens to be a very close friend and a brother I'd lay my life down for. Well, maybe. But only if he named his first born after me. Or at least his left testicle. Anyways, Aadam has been a huge influence on my writing and my thinking as well. He's also been on the podcast at least a dozen times now on the Coaches Corner episodes. But this time, I got him solo, one-on-one, and we would have touched tips, but he's in Britain and I'm in NYC. But here's a little bio about Aadam: I am a cunt. The supreme cunt of cunts. Call me King Cunt. Cuntzilla of Cuntakistan. I write things. And people read them. When they don't, I feel bad that they have no personality or sense of humor. I taught Deadpool everything he knows. Seriously; I'm not fucking kidding—everything. Oh, and I brood harder than Drake and Bruce Wayne combined. I also draw things. And read those ancient things made of paper called books. And sometimes, I go onstage for Zayn of One Direction. Because we're brothers. Except, we got separated at birth and he wound up in a band, and I wound up getting wedgies at Uni, so I dropped out, got shredded, and then started helping people look better with their clothes off. But don't send me your pictures, I don't wanna see them. Unless you're fit. And by fit, I mean me. So enjoy this episode with my brother, Aadam Ali. We talk about: Why he’s taken a break from being on social media as much Creating long form content How’s he’s grown as a writer over the last two years Creating the illustrations for his articles Not being afraid to try things Writing for social media vs blogs His perfectionist streak Where he struggles to be himself His Keto experiment Tools in his toolbox Patience His battle with a short temper The struggles of the writing process Getting started The importance of doing the work What he’s taken away from Jordan Peterson’s lectures Virtue in suffering Pain is the harbinger of truth Guardians, Justice League, and more The History of the Calorie How he helps clients not count calories long term There is no normal 

Aadam Ali on His Growth as a Writer, His Short Temper, & The Virtue Found in Suffering

If Tim Ferriss and Nerdist had a love child that loved fitness and Star Wars, it would be this show. This is a fitness podcast that explores the stories of coaches, trainers, athletes and explores their struggles and triumphs. Life is like an RPG so I look to explore the tools they used to conquer their quests.