Renegade Radio With Jay Ferruggia: Fitness | Nutrition | Lifestyle | Strength Training | Self Help | Motivation

Most of us know sugar is bad. But just how bad is it, really? What are the negative effects we should we worried about? The unfortunate reality is that sugar contributes to chronic health problems like Alzheimer’s, fatty liver disease and cancer. It can wreak havoc on gut health and your immune system. For more on this, I enlisted the help of sugar expert and the man who wrote the book on it, Dan DeFigio. In this episode we discuss: Sugar’s overall impact on your health The 4 types of sugar addicts Sugar and depression How to avoid gut health issues Hidden sources of sugar The problem with agave and artificial sweeteners Are fruits and grains as bad as sugar? The importance of mindful eating How eating more can help reduce sugar cravings This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. With 75 ingredients working together to help with eleven different areas of health. You never know what’s going to come up in your day; however, with just one scoop of Athletic Greens when you wake up or add it to your morn

Eric Merola is a documentary filmmaker. On today’s podcast we focus mainly on his films about curing cancer and the amazing life changing benefits of fetal stem cell therapy. I think you’ll find the discussion fascinating and frustrating at the same time, if not slightly angering.  That’s because a lot of it is about the lies being perpetrated by big pharma and the greed fueled corruption that keeps people sick. Topics include: The doctor who discovered a cure for cancer How the government tried to silence him Why donating to cancer research is a huge waste Why you should never trust the ___ foundation What to do if you or someone you love has cancer Preventative measures against cancer The amazing fetal stem cell treatment he recently got Reversing low libido and sexual dysfunction Slowing down the aging process Improving cognitive skills Healing aches and pains This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. With 75 ingredients working together to help with eleven different areas of health. You never k

My buddy, Luka Hocevar is one of the smartest and most impressive dudes I know. In this episode, he drops a ton of amazing knowledge bombs that could have a huge impact on your life, your business, and your fitness. You’ll definitely want to have a notebook out for this one and will probably want to listen twice. Topics discussed include: The 3 keys to accelerated learning (and retaining what you learn) The importance of “ready, fire, aim” Why making decisions faster is the key to success When surrendering is the right move The best way to run a personal training business How to shine at customer service How to solve problems more effectively The power of storytelling Where science fails us The honeymoon period of new diets and programs The top 2 reasons people get hurt in the gym Why slower progress may be the keys to your gains How to turn fitness into a habit The best piece of advice my mom ever gave me (check in at 45:35 for the wisdom) Why you should have more coffee dates Essential questions to ask cli

On this episode, I’m joined by my brother from another mother of another color, Kenny Johnson, and my homie, Jay Jablonski. We talked about all kinds of stuff from meeting Dr. Dre to ordering pizza from your shoes to my Sam Kinison-like intensity.   Tune in to listen to us chat (and sometimes yell) about topics including: The essential email you have to send The “feel good” rep scheme Reintroducing wheat To what lengths would I go for a superpower? Music recommendations Tim Tebow, GSP, Kendrick Lamar The problem with Major League Baseball Death row meals Rap battles Minimalism tips What to do when your family sucks Pull ups vs rows Battling anxiety This episode is brought to you by Kimera Koffee. It is great tasting high altitudes single estate coffee packed with premium-grade nootropics, proven to help increase focus, power output and cognition. Go to http://www.kimerakoffee.com/shop to get 10% off your order by using the coupon code “Jay” at checkout. Turbo charge your brain now! This episode is also br

Tom Incledon may have the answers to all of your health related questions. He’s spent his entire career testing thousands of people and has seen it (and helped correct) it all. Tom has more degrees and certifications than Eminem has rhymes. These include a B.S. in Exercise Science, B.S. in Nutrition, M.S. in Kinesiology, and Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology. He’s a member in over 30 different scientific organizations and serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. But he’s no 130-pound lab geek in a white coat. Tom has been ranked nationally in powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and strongman. His best lifts include: 187-pound one arm snatch (using a 7′ barbell) 286-pound power snatch 352-pound power clean and jerk 452-pound front squat 615-pound deadlift Tom did all this at weighing under 200 pounds. So he not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. In this episode, Tom and I discuss topics such as: Techniques to improve sleep Diets to prevent or help treat cancer How BCAA’s can make you fat Keys to

Philip McKernan is a speaker, coach, writer and filmmaker. He works with entrepreneurs and business leaders all over the world. When people are seeking clarity about their future or want to move through roadblocks, seen and unseen, they call Philip. As a speaker he has inspired and challenged the Canadian Olympic Team and The Pentagon, to name a few. What separates Philip from a lot of coaches, speakers and gurus is originality. He brings new conversations to the table and spends an obscene amount of time thinking and challenging the status quo, instead of simply repackaging business & life hacking strategies. I had a very interesting discussion with Philip on the most recent podcast. Topics include: Making the leap from mindset to "soulset" The problem with goals The importance of pursuing artistic endeavors The benefits of improve and comedy The problem with the self-help industry How to real live authentically Fixing your relationship with money Is gratitude just another trendy buzzword Why sometimes

Some people have it all wrong. They go the gym 3-4 times a week and lift the heaviest weights possible. That’s their only concern. More pounds on the bar, more weight on the scale. But, above all else, you’ve gotta be able to move your body. Freely and without pain or restriction. If you can’t do that you have no business putting another plate on the bar. If you can’t do a perfect bodyweight squat it makes zero sense to load the exercise. I’ve spent about eleventeen million hours in gyms throughout my life. I can probably count on two hands the number of times I’ve seen someone do a perfect pushup. Sad but true. Yet the dude doing the shitty pushups as a warm up will readily lay down and start bench pressing. Too many of us have it backwards. Mike Fitch was once one of those people. He bulked up way beyond his natural weight and noticed an incredible drop in his mobility and movement efficiency. In today’s podcast Mike talks about his journey. Topics include: His awakening that led him to bodyweight mastery

It’s been a while since we’ve heard my brother, Kenny Johnson on the podcast. In that time he lost 43 pounds of body-fat, got shredded and competed in a physique contest. Like me, Kenny got his first visible 6-pack after his 40th birthday. That means there’s plenty of hope for everyone who thinks their best days are behind them. Not evenly remotely true. Today Kenny and I are freestyling back and forth about: His exact diet plan and how it progressed. His training and cardio schedule. The diets we’ve felt best on. The difference between eating for health vs. physique vs. performance. What I did to get 9.5 hours of sleep 3 nights in a row. A secret way to improve your pressing. Why I don’t allow people to “pick my brain.” Rules for meeting a new dog. White people and wild animals. #GrammysSoWhite Automation for porn? The best rapper alive every year since ’79. Essentials to a full body warm up. Best barbell-free lower body exercises. How often can you really train?

Does a workout really have to last an hour to deliver great results? Can you really only train hard three times per week? Are deload weeks necessary? Is overtraining overhyped? I sit down with my good friends, Adam Bornstein, Luka Hocevar and Jay Jablonski to answer these questions and more in today’s podcast. Adam also shares some great life lessons from his recent health scare and what he’s learned so far as a dad. Other topics discussed include: The common weakness Adam and I share [4:02]. The importance of structure [10:09]. The dangers of always trying to do more [13:46]. Does it matter if people like you? [27:24]. Why Luka’s always had a chip on his shoulder [29:14]. Why we always try to prove people wrong [30:46]. “Boners everywhere” [32:33]. How new dads can make time to train [34:29]. The benefits of short workouts [35:20]. High frequency training [37:44]. Breaking up workouts and prehab stuff [42:00]. How much intensity should you bring to your workouts? [42:29]. A better way to make training a hab

Doctor Mark Cheng is a ninja, a Jedi, and an evil genius. He possesses, what some might consider, magical, mystical healing powers. I met Doc Cheng a few years back and had him start working on some of my injuries. His ability to assess and correct dysfunction is second to none. He can tell what’s wrong with your shoulder by the way you walk. He can tell what’s wrong with your ankle by the way you talk. Maybe I’m exaggerating. Or maybe I’m not. In addition to being a respected healer and body worker, Doc Cheng is a highly trained fight expert. In my 30 years of training experience the best I’ve ever felt was when I was working with Doc Cheng on a twice per week basis. We started in his office and then progressed to training in the gym. I believe that even coaches need coaches, so I handed the reins over to the good doc and let him take control. We mixed rehab, strength work and fight techniques all into the same workout. The progress I made was mind blowing. Doc Cheng joins us on the podcast today to discuss

For most of your life you’ve been told that you can have it all. You can do everything and be everything. But that’s bullshit. And trying to do and have it all will get you nowhere. It might even ruin your life. To have more happiness and success you need to do less. You need to say “no” more often. You need to be okay with “missing out.” It’s all about identifying the vital few and separating them from the trivial many. That’s the way of the “essentialist.” If you’ve followed me for any length of time you have heard me recommend the book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. Today, I finally have the author, Greg McKeown on the podcast. Topics discussed include: How the concept of Essentialism evolved for Greg [4:30]. Why it’s not just about less, but better [7:59]. Vital questions you need to ask yourself [11:03]. The myth of “priorities” [12:30]. Why it’s so hard to get rid of physical possessions [16:16]. Why we feel the need to be busy all the time [19:10]. How to say no gracefully [22:59]. Pr

If you’re lucky you have one or two great mentors, teachers or coaches who change your life forever. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a handful of them. But, perhaps none have been as impactful as my great friend, Alwyn Cosgrove. Alwyn grew up poor in Glasgow, Scotland. Fighting was essential for survival, so he got a black belt and became a nation champion in Tae Kwon Do. He later became a strength coach and moved to the US, which is how we met at a training workshop in 1996. For the 20 years since he’s been one of my closest friends, biggest supporters and most trusted advisers. Whenever I have a tough decision to make he’s one of the first people I call. I value his opinion and insight that much. He’s helped me get through many tough times, even during his two battles with Stage 4 cancer. When you listen to today’s episode I hope you’ll understand why I hold this man in the highest regard. Topics discussed include: The Sugar Ray Leonard attitude [8:08]. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s [12:09]. How one t

Everybody has fears. They cause us anxiety and keep us awake at night. Most of these fears are imagined. They aren’t real. Mark Twain said, “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” Those who succeed in life and find happiness are those who can overcome their fears.  They can separate real from imagined. They face the fear and move forward. Those who cannot will remain stagnant, frustrated and crippled. This is not the life you want. In this episode, I sit down with the author of Life Unlocked, and Total Brain Makeover, Dr. Srini Pillay. We discuss exactly how you can become your best self. Topics include: Why you don’t do what you know you should be doing [5:16]. The expectation of failure [11:03]. Essential questions to ask yourself [15:15]. The science of productivity and the period of un-focus [21:01]. The difference between conscious and unconscious fear [31:28]. The effect that social media and news has on your brain [38:30]. How to reframe negative though

About 8 years ago I was hospitalized with panic and anxiety attacks. I made some major changes to my life immediately after…but old habits have a way of sneaking back in if you don’t stay on top of things. Last December I felt myself slipping only I didn’t do anything about it. I kept soldiering on and trying to plow through like I always do. Big mistake. Come mid January my anxiety and stress was bubbling over and nearly at an all time high. I was in desperate need of a break. In this episode my good friend, actor Jay Jablonski joins me for a candid discussion on what went wrong, how I caught it,  and how you can also unf*ck yourself. Topics include: Hammer time & the jacket that doesn’t come off [3:07]. The effects of Cool Water Cologne [11:45]. The value of unplugging [14:04]. The birth of my stress, anxiety and intensity [22:04]. How your daily routine affects your sleep [30:11]. Moving toward a more minimalist lifestyle [31:11]. Being honest with yourself and not having goals [39:17]. Growing up in

Chris “The Kiwi” Ashenden is the creator of Athletic Greens, the worlds most complete whole food supplement. Chris is all about happiness, personal growth, living outside the box, and enjoying a spectacular life. He had been to 43 countries before his 13th birthday, and decided to retire in 2005 to spend 4 years traveling the planet full time. Now very much un-retired, with a ton of friends in crazy places, 60 plus countries under the belt, and some amazing memories, he is focused on using what he can remember from his studies for a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and his cumulative years as a nutritionist and strength coach to help other people enjoy amazing levels of health and energy. Chris and I had a great discussion on topics including: Ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone [3:12].  Having no regrets and taking on new adventures [9:22]. Being a citizen of the world [17:33]. Mini retirement and the beginning of a friendship with Timothy Ferriss [19:35]. Advice on how to travel around the worl

Not seeing the results you want, so you invent your own workout? Avoid this common mistake and more.   In this episode, I had to finish of the month strong and give you my thoughts on my Royal Rumble and NFL Playoffs predictions, talk about some of the player's diets and how you can apply them to your training routine and offer my advice on how to avoid injury and some common mistakes guys are making.   I knocked out a lot of questions, so you don't want to miss this episode. Topics Include: How to apply the Tom Brady & James Harrison diet and routine for the average Joe [6:22]. The power of sports [15:44]. My disbelief in the political system [17:28]. How to create effective daily affirmations [21:22]. Superfly and the impact Pro Wrestling had my life [23:41]. Over analyzing, paralysis by analysis and self doubt [27:54]. The benefits of the float tank and settling your mind [31:14]. What is Ketosis and how to set up your diet and training [33:41]. Should you take protein powders for post workouts [41:42

John Lee Dumas is the host of EOFire, where he interviews today's most successful Entrepreneurs 7-days a week. JLD has grown EOFire into a multi-million dollar a year business with over 1500 interviews and 1.5 million monthly listens. His latest project is The Mastery Journal: Master productivity, discipline and focus in 100 days. Learn more at TheMasteryJournal.com! We sat down recently to have a discussion that included the following topics: The Background on John Lee Dumas and the birth of his podcast [3:08]. Advice on how to start a podcast [6:19]. The usefulness of transparency with your audience [9:03]. The secrets to productivity, discipline and focus [12:28]. Is discipline a myth for the average person? [14:50]. Morning rituals, what worked and what didn’t work [18:00]. The Pomodoro Technique [27:36]. Most important thing to do during your first 30-40 minutes in the AM [29:10]. After the morning ritual: How to handle the rest of your day [30:45]. Methods for limiting Social Media usage [32:17]. How t

Actor, Jay Jablonski is back in studio with me this week and we attempted to film this episode for you. Unfortunately things went awry, as you’ll hear when you listen. Still, we soldiered on and discussed the current NFL playoff situation, what I find bizarre and fascinating about Jablonski, my Jon Snow freak out, wasting time on Facebook, phone alerts, life lessons from Fight Club, and more.   We also answered your questions on topics such as: Playoff predictions, Bieber's boat and the Giant's game [3:10]. Social media, the news, and the need to de-plug [4:47]. Review of Craig Ballantyne's book, "The Perfect Day Formula"[9:12]. Jablonski's acting role in the new film,"Doolittle's Heroes" [12:40]. Adapting to living with diagnosed and undiagnosed A.D.H.D [13:55]. What kind of training he is doing currently [16:10]. The importance of finding your ideal circle of friends [19:06]. Learning to accept the gift of a compliment [19:59]. Vacationing in Cabo, trying the Graston Technique and the new craze, "Shape Hou

You want to be jacked, but aren't seeing the gains you want? Doctor Kirk Parsley dives into the main problem that can be holding you back- sleep. Doc Parsley served as an Undersea Medical Officer at Naval Special Warfare Group One. He is a former SEAL and served as Naval Special Warfare’s expert on Sleep Medicine. Doc's philosophy is simple; in order to optimize our health and get the most out of our bodies and minds, we must live more closely to the way we evolved as a species. Many diseases and disorders that we accept as “inevitable” in modern society are unnecessary complications of poor sleeping habits, living in a toxic environment, eating foods we were not designed to digest, and allowing stress to overwhelm us. Doc and I sat down recently to discuss everything you need to know about how to optimize your sleep. Topics Include: His interest in sleep, his experience with the Navy SEALS, and how his career began [3:03]. Slept adaption, sleep deprivation, and overall performance [12:37]. Paying back sleep

Today’s podcast is an inspirational discussion with former Super Bowl Champ and NFL’s Fittest Man, Steve Weatherford. Steve played professionally from 2006 to 2015, most notably as a member of my favorite team, the New York Giants. He was known for his incredible strength, athleticism and physique. Since his playing days ended he’s been on a mission to get even more jacked than ever and looks like he could step on a bodybuilding stage at any given moment. He’s also become a highly sought after motivational speaker and one of the top social media influencers of his generation. Steve stopped by the HQ last Friday night and we kicked it for about almost four hours. Luckily we got half of it recorded and it’s up now for you to listen to. Topics Include: His experience with Aerial Yoga and flexibility [3:59]. His earlier years as an athlete in elementary school and high school [4:32]. Putting on 118 LBs in 4 years during high school [4:59]. His first experiences with sports as a kid [6:02]. What he learned going