Stan Efferding is an IFBB Professional bodybuilder and World Record Holding Powerlifter. He is one of only 10 men in the world to ever total over 2,300 pounds raw in competition. Stan holds the title as the World's Strongest Bodybuilder.
He conducts seminars all over the country for various sports and nutrition and training techniques, and he coined the Vertical Diet - his book, The Vertical Diet, just came out and in this episode Ashleigh and Stan talk all things diet, muscle building, and what we can all take from the regimens of elite athletes.
In this episode:
Please check out our show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!
You may not be aware that many of our culinary herbs and spices started out as medicine. I asked chemist and plant expert (and product developer for Medicine Man Plant Co) to do a deep dive on a spice everyone knows, but many may not know the benefits of: black pepper. Yes, it tastes great with salt on french fries, but it also works with other healthy compounds to enable them to work better: things like turmeric and cayenne pepper, for example, by helping your body absorb more of those healthy compounds. Find out more about how black pepper works in this episode, and check out the previous episode with Mark all about another common pantry item: sage.
Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. grew up in the wilds of Minnesota where his parents and grandparents utilized the amazing wild foods and medicinal plants found in local woods, fields, and lakes. He received a BS in professional chemistry from South Dakota State University followed by a MS in medicinal chemistry and a PH.D. in physical organic chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technical university in the US.
After graduation a strange twist of fate set him traveling the world as a petroleum chemist rather than in pharmaceuticals. However, his knowledge of natural products blessed him with the ability to tap natural compounds to replace traditionally hazardous oilfield chemicals. During this career he earned fourteen chemical patents that made the petroleum industry safer for all. After 20 years of that he moved on to the position of R&D Manager for a consumer chemical product company. Here Dr. Vorderbruggen reinvented their line of construction chemical products, safely and effectively replacing the dangerous compounds the industry had been using. He also spearheaded the company’s R&D efforts for a whole new line of personal care products designed to protect people from the toxins they encounter daily. Mark wrote Idiot’s Guide Foraging and The Medicinal Plants of Texas (to be published 2022).
To learn more about Medicine Man Plant Co’s products and the ingredients they use, click here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a 20% discount on anything you purchase.
Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!
Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com
This week Ashleigh sits down with functional medicine practitioner and co-author of the book Hangry, Dr. Brooke Kalanick, to talk about hormonal health, managing stress, and why muscle is the gift that keeps on giving. They cover practical tips on how to not let your health take the back burner no matter how busy you are; learning how to listen to your body and make adjustments without guilt or fear; and how the past year has made people more proactive about their health. They also touch on the challenges of peri-menopause and how to combat them, and Dr. Brooke backs up Ashleigh’s most common tips on the importance of eating protein and lifting weights. These aren’t fads, people!
A licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Brooke attended Seattle, Washington’s Bastyr University, where she earned a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and Masters in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Her areas of expertise include female health, hypothyroidism and autoimmunity with specialties in PCOS, Hashimoto’s, menopause and weight loss. Learn more and work with Dr. Brooke - check out her website Betterbydrbrooke.com
Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!
Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com
Robb Wolf is a 2 x New York Times best selling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired to Eat, co-authored Sacred Cow with Diana Rodgers, is a former research biochemist and one of the world’s leading experts in Paleolithic nutrition. Wolf has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world via his top ranked iTunes podcast and wildly popular seminar series as well as his The Healthy Rebellion online community.
Robb is also one of the first people Ashleigh listened to and learned from when she began her health writing, podcasting, and coaching career, and this episode is a meta-conversation: talking about the state of the health community while being a part of it. This episode is less about a Q&A with Robb about ideal food and exercise and more about a high-level (and at times provocative) conversation about the current environment and culture around ancestral health.
We cover it all: politics, the pandemic, the changing nature of communication and teaching (and why Robb briefly considered giving up his work), cancel culture and community, how subtle messaging can be more insidious than aggressive anti-meat marketing, how to make a positive impact in such an emotionally-charged industry, veganism for pregnant women and children, and so much more. You’ll want to listen to this one all the way to the end!
TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Intro message
5:59 - What’s going on in Robb’s life
21:40 - How COVID-19 changed the way Robb works + implications of the online world
37:23 - Is there any point in coming to a middle ground with people online?
48:40 - Censorship and when personal opinions, emotion, and misinformation matter more than cold hard facts
1:02:00 - Common theme of anti-meat / veganism continued; how to get your opinion across when cancel culture triumphs
1:19:33 - The misconception of meats in regards to women; normalizing styles of eating as “healthy eating”
1:32:33 - Outro message
Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!
Please connect with Ashleigh and learn more about her new projects, recipes, programs and more at ashleighvanhouten.com
Did you hear the one about the plant-based coach and the meat-based coach who sat down together for a podcast? Well, the punchline is, they have an open conversation about making informed dietary choices, eating disorders, getting enough protein on a plant-based diet, how to adjust your body back to animal protein after years of vegan eating, how to know when someone is using dietary protocols to “excuse” disordered eating, and identity issues around diet, among other topics.
Ashleigh chats with Tiana Pollari, a Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer who specializes in the integration of functional strength training and holistic living. She believes that food should nourish and fuel you and is always in the kitchen creating nutritious and delicious meals to satisfy any skeptic. When she isn’t in the kitchen creating recipes she is also coaching women on how to build sustainable habits and feel confident and sexy in their bodies through her online programs. You can find more information at www.tianapollari.com including access to her workouts, meal plans, and coaching.
A big thank you to our show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinacea, and cordyceps - incredible natural ingredients that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!
And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource! Get one-on-one access to Ashleigh and her expertise, as well as daily info on her favorite health and wellness resources - no micromanaging, just a support system for the enthusiastic health nerd looking to optimize their wellness.
You may not be aware that many of our culinary herbs and spices started out as medicine. Ashleigh asks chemist and plant expert (and product developer for Medicine Man Plant Co) to do a quick but deep dive on a specific herb: sage. You may be only familiar with sage as a tasty seasoning for chicken or turkey, but turns out it has a long list of incredible benefits around brain health and focus, antibacterial benefits, digestive support, hormonal balance, and even more. Find out why you might want to start adding more sage to your recipes!
Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. grew up in the wilds of Minnesota where his parents and grandparents utilized the wild foods and medicinal plants found in local woods, fields, and lakes. He received a BS in professional chemistry from South Dakota State University followed by a MS in medicinal chemistry and a PH.D. in physical organic chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technical university in the US.
After graduation a strange twist of fate set him traveling the world as a petroleum chemist rather than in pharmaceuticals. However, his knowledge of natural products blessed him with the ability to tap natural compounds to replace traditionally hazardous oilfield chemicals. During this career he earned fourteen chemical patents that made the petroleum industry safer for all. After 20 years of that he moved on to the position of R&D Manager for a consumer chemical product company. Here Dr. Vorderbruggen reinvented their line of construction chemical products, safely and effectively replacing the dangerous compounds the industry had been using. He also spearheaded the company’s R&D efforts for a whole new line of personal care products designed to protect people from the toxins they encounter daily. Mark wrote Idiot’s Guide Foraging and The Medicinal Plants of Texas (to be published 2022).
To learn more about Medicine Man Plant Co’s products and the ingredients they use, head to medicinemanplantco.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a 20% discount on anything you purchase.
Thanks to show sponsor BiOptimizers - level up your gut health game with the makers of my favorite probiotic, digestive enzymes, and other gut health promoting products. I’ve been using their P30M and MassZymes product for the past year and have noticed a significant improvement in my digestion especially during times of stress. Even those of us with optimal diets can use some help now and then - check out their products here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!
In this solo episode, Ashleigh breaks down her key tips for healthy, beautiful, resilient skin - for both men and women - from a nutritional lifestyle perspective, as well as her key topical skincare tips. She breaks down some skincare ingredients you should avoid and some you may want to try, ways to think about sun exposure, and much more. (Please note that Ashleigh is not a dermatologist and this is not medical advice; please use your own discretion when trying new products or nutrition protocols).
Some resources that may help you:
https://primallypure.com/pages/find-your-skin-state
https://philmaffetone.com/sun-and-brain/
Speaking of skincare, one Ashleigh’s favorite companies and partners is Primally Pure - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
Steve Liberati is the Founder of Steve’s, a healthy snack food company, and the non-profit organization Steve’s Club Camden. Steve’s is a small, family-owned business that Steve started in 2007 when he saw an opportunity to help make a real and positive impact in his community. Ashleigh has been a fan of Steve’s products and company ethos of fitness, wellness, and giving back to the community for a long time, so she asked Steve on to talk about the origin and growth of his business, how to manage the business side of a company that is founded on non-profit and philanthropic principles, and why it’s so important and rewarding to teach and encourage kids and teenagers about healthy living and eating.
Steve’s Club provides fitness, nutritional guidance and personal development to at-risk youth. Since that day, Steve’s has devoted themselves to creating zero-sugar jerky and other paleo and Keto friendly snacks using the proceeds to fund Steve’s Cub Camden. Learn more at https://stevespaleogoods.com/
A big thank you to our show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinachea, and corcyceps - incredible natural ingredient that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!
And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!
Dr. Kellyann Petrucci is a New York Times bestselling author, weight-loss and natural anti-aging expert, and a concierge doctor for celebrities in New York City and Los Angeles. She is a board-certified naturopathic physician and a certified nutrition consultant. She is a massive proponent of using food to encourage robust health and beauty, and challenging what we think about “natural aging.”
In this episode Dr. Kellyann and Ashleigh discuss eating for beauty; addressing gut health as a means of overall health but also anti-aging; how to slow down brain aging; and ways we can switch our perspective from thinking of aging as an inevitable declone, to thinking of it as an opportunity for growth, improvement, and continued vitality. Aging well doesn’t happen by accident, and there’s so much we can do to feel, look, and perform well as move through life. Learn more about her work at drkellyann.com.
Speaking of looking great, shoutout to show sponsor Primally Pure, Ashleigh’s favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!
In this episode Ashleigh and Kristin, a former lawyer turned nutritional therapy practitioner and coach, talk about stomach acid deficiency; stress management among type A athletes and professionals; how to massively increase your muscle-building potential with less time in the gym; when “biohacking tools” can actually be really effective; and what she means by “nutrition frequency” (spoiler alert - it’s more about the energy and mindfulness you bring to eating rather than actual meal timing)
Kristin Rowell is a former business litigator turned Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and the founder of Energetically Efficient. She consults for companies and organizations around the country on a variety of nutrition, lifestyle and wellness topics as well as works with individual clients one-on-one.
During Kristin’s 16 years as a business litigator, she ran 24 marathons, became an IPE Natural Professional Bodybuilder, became 2018 Ms. Natural Minnesota (Figure) by the National Amateur Natural Bodybuilding Federation, successfully litigated numerous complex business cases to conclusion and, in 2019, was identified by Super Lawyers on the list of Minnesota’s Top 50 Women Attorneys. Now, her passion is helping people get fit, healthy and to finally take control of their lives. Learn more at https://energeticallyefficient.com/
Level up your gut health game with BiOptimizers, makers of my favorite probiotic, digestive enzymes, and other gut health promoting products. I’ve been using their P30M and MassZymes product for the past year and have noticed a significant improvement in my digestion especially during times of stress. Even those of us with optimal diets can use some help now and then - check out their products here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
Check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!
Dr. Marc Bubbs is a Naturopathic Doctor, Performance Nutrition Lead for Canada Basketball, and Performance Nutrition Consultant for a portfolio of professional and Olympic athletes. Marc is the author of the best-selling book Peak: The new science of athletic performance that is revolutionizing sports - An integrated and personalized approach to health, nutrition, training, recovery and mindset. His new book, Peak40 is all about building a leaner, stronger body and sharper mind in mid-life - and you can check it out here: https://drbubbs.com/peak40
In this episode Ashleigh and Marc talk about the differences, and similarities, in training - both from a mental and physical standpoint - between general population and high level athletes; how crucial the fundamentals are, and how the less time you have to do them, the greater the indication that you SHOULD be doing them; and why happiness and fitness tends to bottom out for people in their 40s, and what we can do about it.
A big thank you to our new show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinachea, and corcyceps - incredible natural ingredient that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!
“If you can work your way into poor posture, you can work your way out of it.” - Words of hope from today’s guest, Annette Verpillot, the founder of Posturepro, a health company specialized in restoring the brain-body connection through some of the world’s most advanced rehabilitation and injury prevention techniques. She has created the Posturepro Method which has gained global recognition for eliminating chronic pain, optimizing children’s development, and improving sports proficiency. Additionally, Annette actively works with children, clients, professional athletes, trainers, practitioners, and researchers to develop solutions to tackle global health issues.
You may already know that the way you move, sit, and your footwear can contribute to posture issues and pain, but this episode will open your mind to how much more is involved in proper movement patterns - from your eyes, to your jaw and “tongue” posture,” to your breathing patterns, and so much more. Nearly all of us are misaligned in some way, contributing either to daily chronic pain or suboptimal movement patterns, sports related injury, and other issues, but the good news is there is SO much you can do in your daily life to start making improvements.
Check out Annette’s work, her website, and her Ted Talk here.
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at here and use the code MM20 for a massive 20% discount!
Check out my brand new website here!
Nutritionist, coach, podcast host and honorary co-host of Muscle Maven Radio Rachel Gregory joins Ashleigh again to answer listener questions about nutrition! They cover topics like eating for healthy hormones; how sleep and food cravings are connected; “keto” sweeteners; tips for snacking, why moderation sounds great but rarely works, and a lot more.
Learn more about Ashleigh’s brand-new habit coaching service - where she provides you with all of her healthy habit routines and resources, and you have direct access to her to get all of your nutrition, training, and lifestyle questions answered.
And a big welcome to our new show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinachea, and corcyceps - incredible natural ingredient that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!
In preparation for Ashleigh’s upcoming second cookbook all about protein-forward recipes, she interviews chef, butcher, entrepreneur, author, and educator Ryan Farr about some basic rules and mistakes folks make in the kitchen when it comes to preparing, cutting, handling, and cooking meat. This super practical episode is a must-listen for any amateur chef and meat-lover who wants to get the most out of their cooking. The two cover ideal equipment and utensils; biggest mistakes many at-home chefs make; questions to ask your butcher, and much more.
Ryan is the founder of San Francisco’s 4505 Meats, an artisan whole-animal meat company devoted to sustainable practices (and making delicious chicharrons and other tasty products!) He started 4505 Burgers and BBQ, opened a butchershop, and authored two books: Whole Beast Butchery: The Complete Visual Guide to Beef, Lamb, and Pork and Sausage Making: The Definitive Guide.
Don’t forget Ashleigh already has a meat-based cookbook out: It Takes Guts is a meat-eater’s guide to cooking, eating, and enjoying organ meats and it’s available wherever books are sold!
If you care about immune health and nutrient density as much as I do, you’ll want to give my new partner, Organifi, a try. The makers of a line of superfood blends that are low in sugar and high in nutrition, I love their Organifi Red Juice the best - it’s loaded with veggie and fruit-derived antioxidants and adaptogens like cordyceps, reishi, and rhodiola, so I can get all these superfoods in one convenient, tasty place (and save more room in my belly for steak). They also offer some of their products (currently Organifi Green and Gold, and more) in single serving packs so you can take them with you on the go! Head to http://www.organifi.com/musclemaven and use the code musclemaven for 15% off your order!
Coaching is big business - perhaps even more so now, when our options for going to the gym and working out can be more limited. As a professional in the health and fitness industry for more than a decade, Ashleigh has worked as a coach and has experience as a client; she’s also worked with, observed, interviewed, and learned from some of the top coaches in the industry.
When a coaching experience doesn’t go well, it’s easy to chalk it up to an unmotivated client, or a crappy coach - sometimes this is true, but more often it boils down to miscommunication and unclear goals. A coach/client relationship requires understanding, open-mindedness, respect, and communication (just like every relationship) but often we don’t focus on this; instead we focus on how much money we’re spending, how fit the coach looks, and how long this “getting healthy” process will take.
In this episode, Ashleigh breaks down what she sees as the biggest “failures” of both coaches and clients, and how she thinks we can improve the culture and understanding and approach to coaching to improve outcomes and create healthier, happier people.
You can learn more about Ashleigh’s coaching services at ashleighvanhouten.com, or https://www.volv.ai/channels/-12/musclemaven
TIMESTAMPS:
[08:33] - Part 1: The problem with coaches
[34:41] - Part 2: The problem with clients
[1:02:17] - Part 3: How to fix the client/coach relationship
If you care about immune health and nutrient density as much as I do, you’ll want to give my new partner, Organifi, a try. The makers of a line of superfood blends that are low in sugar and high in nutrition, I love their Organifi Red Juice the best - it’s loaded with veggie and fruit-derived antioxidants and adaptogens like cordyceps, reishi, and rhodiola, so I can get all these superfoods in one convenient, tasty place (and save more room in my belly for steak). They also offer some of their products (currently Organifi Green and Gold, and more) in single serving packs so you can take them with you on the go! Head to http://www.organifi.com/musclemaven and use the code musclemaven for 15% off your order!
It’s finally here! Ashleigh has teamed up with nutritionist and coach Rachel Gregory to develop the Muscle Science for Women program, a three-month course on the theory and application of strength and muscle building that begins in April. In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel talk in-depth about the scope of the course; what they will cover, what participants will gain and learn, and some of the key challenges and sticking points for women who are looking to change body composition and improve strength and performance.
Real, sustainable progress and change is made possible when individuals invest in truly learning a subject, rather than blindly following someone else’s plan, and this program will equip participants with the research, science, resources, support, and practical tools to improve their health through nutrition, training, and mindset.
Learn more about our Muscle Science for Women course (starting April 12!) here: https://www.metflexlife.com/muscle-science-women
NEW SPONSOR ALERT! If you care about immune health and nutrient density as much as I do, you’ll want to give my new partner, Organifi, a try. The makers of a line of superfood blends that are low in sugar and high in nutrition, I love their Organifi Red Juice the best - it’s loaded with veggie and fruit-derived antioxidants and adaptogens like cordyceps, reishi, and rhodiola, so I can get all these superfoods in one convenient, tasty place (and save more room in my belly for steak). They also offer some of their products (currently Organifi Green and Gold, and more) in single serving packs so you can take them with you on the go! Head to http://www.organifi.com/musclemaven and use the code musclemaven for 15% off your order!
Amanda Carneiro is a personal trainer, fitness nutritionist, and holistic nutritionist specializing in gut health and fat loss (which are often closely linked). She works one-on-one with remote clients and also offers fantastic online courses on Gut Health and Fat Loss specifically. In this episode, Ashleigh and Amanda talk about the links between stress, gut health, digestion, mental health, and more; how Amanda works with clients to uncover the root cause of gut health issues, which can be complex and multi-layered; and why striving for resilience and flexibility is more sustainable than seeking out the “perfect diet.”
Find out more about Amanda’s gut health and fat loss courses and working one-one-one with her through her website, rawfitnessandnutrition.com.
NEW SPONSOR ALERT! If you care about immune health and nutrient density as much as I do, you’ll want to give my new partner, Organifi, a try. The makers of a line of superfood blends that are low in sugar and high in nutrition, I love their Organifi Red Juice the best - it’s loaded with veggie and fruit-derived antioxidants and adaptogens like cordyceps, reishi, and rhodiola, so I can get all these superfoods in one convenient, tasty place (and save more room in my belly for steak). They also offer some of their products (currently Organifi Green and Gold, and more) in single serving packs so you can take them with you on the go! Head to http://www.organifi.com/musclemaven and use the code musclemaven for 15% off your order!
My #JackedBack Pull-Up Program, designed to get you functional strength, mobility, and beautiful strict pull-ups, is available now online and in PDF form! Sign up for lifetime access to the program, a full exercise video library, and access to me, your personal pull-up coach, HERE, or e-mail me at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com for the PDF version (only $34.99!)