Category Archives: Mental Meat Heads

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Debate

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The Mental Meat Heads group on Facebook has been a hotbed of activity this week and it’s gotten me very excited. At just over 700 members this group has been a labor of love for the past two and a half years. I started the group after our first Mental Meat Heads Workshop, in January, 2013. I wanted to create a forum where like minded fitness enthusiasts and professionals could share ideas, debate concepts, and, thereby, elevate the industry as a whole. Over time our ranks have steadily increased. My partner in all of this, Chip Conrad, has been a … Read More »

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On Being a Grown Up

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Hey there, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yeah, I know. We’re six days into it, but this is the first time we’ve talked since the holiday and the new year is, in my opinion, something worth noting. It marks a starting point and has all the freshness of a new beginning. It’s the point many of us approach with a sense of, “This year I’m going to [insert resolution here].” Regardless of what we aim for our resolutions boil down to, “This year I’m going to do something different.” Sometimes we do. Often, we don’t. Why is that? Simply put. Change is … Read More »

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At a Loss…

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Hey there, I’m truly at a loss. I’ve purposefully waited a few days to let the dust settle, but my community here in Birmingham has suffered yet another terrible blow. For the second time this year we’ve lost someone dear to us. I’m trying to tread very carefully here. Both of the friends I’m speaking of were greatly loved. Their advocates are fiercely loyal — and with good reason, these were beautiful souls who greatly enriched the lives of those who knew them. And yet, from where I stand, they both left with time to spare. Philosophically I stand upon a paradox. I believe … Read More »

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Crisis and Opportunity

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Hey there, Within the personal development and self-help communities is the cliched concept that within every crisis lies an opportunity. This idea is oft supported by the Chinese chracter for crisis which, it is pointed out, contains the character for opportunity. Not exactly the most empirical of supporting data, but it’s a nice concept, and in the midst of a pretty shitty situation most of us will grasp at anything to make us feel just a little bit better. On the whole, however, I feel that as a guiding principle of life it bears out. Of course, my ability to discern … Read More »

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Fixing What’s Wrong with the Fitness Industry

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Hey there, If you’re a part of my gym or have been on this list for any length of time, you know I’m a huge promoter of my good friend and fellow movement enthusiast, Chip Conrad. Chip really is my brother from another mother. Over the past few years we’ve gone from hosting him and his workshops here at Agoge Fitness Systems to hosting workshops together all across the country. Chip and I combined are the force that spearheads Mental Meat Heads. One of the many things that we try to promote thorugh Mental Meat Heads is something that we … Read More »

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Tyler Welch

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  Meet Mental Meat Head Tyler Welch. Originally from the great state of Wisconsin, Tyler has traveled far and wide in pursuit of movement, strength and fitness. A renegade of the fitness industrial complex, Tyler works with a passion for excellence and embodies the Bodytribe mantra of “Better Before More.” Listen in as we discuss the usual topics of punk rock, fitness, strength and fatherhood. To catch our conversation GO HERE! To watch on YouTube, catch us click below. [leadplayer_vid id=”534703E2CB250″] Mental Meat Heads Interviews are conversations with cutting edge movers and thinkers within the fitness industry. For more on Tyler check … Read More »

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Charles Levine

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Meet Mental Meat Head Charles Levine. Charlie lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. Professionally he’s a group fitness instructor specializing in boot camp style fitness. Additionally he’s an aikido-ka with over 14 years of experience under his belt. Listen in as we discuss training, martial arts and how the two crossover and support each other. For audio, CLICK HERE. To watch the video, click below. [leadplayer_vid id=”5332E51E1B395″] Mental Meat Heads Interviews are talks with the cutting edge thinkers and doers of the health and fitness industry. For more about Charlie check him out at 513fit.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/513fit/157…037559?ref=br_tf. To our perfect … Read More »

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Cameron Conaway: Part 2

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We’re back! Cameron and I sit down for Part 2 of our interview and boy, do we get at it. No subject is taboo. We discuss human trafficking, father issues, writing, and solving the world’s problems. To listen CLICK HERE! To download, right click and “Save As.” To watch on YouTube, click below. [leadplayer_vid id=”53187540AC84E”] For more on Cameron check out the Good Men Project http://goodmenproject.com. To our perfect imperfection, Dave

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Neil Hill

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  Meet Neil Hill. Neil is the other half of Earth Strength which he runs in Tarifa, Spain with Rannoch Donald. Earth Strength is a movement based program designed to help modern, metropolitan humans (Read: Most of us) rediscover nature and the inherent joy that comes with being actively involved in the world around us. Neil teaches bushcraft, or the original skills passed down from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Think primitive fire making technigues, animal tracking and foraging. He offers classes for both children and adults throughout the year. For more information and schedule of events, check out the Earth Strength page. … Read More »

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Andy McCloy

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  Meet Andy McCloy. Andy runs Body Creations, Inc. in Madison, Alabama. He specializes in athletic performance and functional fitness. Listen in as we discuss the nuts and bolts of his training, how he balances single fatherhood and running a business that competes in a highly competitive market, and what it’s like to be a transplant to the Deep South. CLICK HERE to access the interview. To download, right click and “Save As.” To learn more about Andy and his gym, check out the Facebook page HERE. To our perfect imperfection, Dave

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Charles Abouzied

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Happy New Year! This year I’m kicking off Mental Meat Heads 2014 with a revisit with a man who is easily one of my favorite people on Planet Earth. Charles Abouzied has the soul of a Buddha and the heart of lion. As the leader of an eager group of fitness enthusiasts Charles runs Crossfit House of Pain in central New Jersey. Listen in as we discuss Crossfit, the Biggest Loser, body image and overcoming limitations, both internally and externally imposed. To listen CLICK HERE. To download, right click and “Save As.” To watch on YouTube, click below. For more on … Read More »

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Rannoch Donald

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  Meet Rannoch Donald. Besides going into the pool for possessing one of the coolest names of all time, Rannoch is a Renaissance man, a generalist in the finest sense of the word. He’s a martial artist, a blogger, and overall movement enthusiast. A former band promoter, he’s now turned his talents to the fitness industry. Rannoch hosts fitness workshops in the south of Spain, drawing in names like Steve Cotter, Mike Mahler and Erwan La Corre. Listen in as we discuss fitness, martial arts, diet, eating habits, and what it takes to be a better man. To check out … Read More »