In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged, Anders, Doug, and Travis dive into Coach Travis’ recent melanoma diagnosis, how he found out about it, and his recent surgery to eliminate it.

We also dive into Anders’ quest to build a gym in the middle of the woods where he plans on lifting giant trees and the latest in strength tech with Travis Mash.

Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization

Links:

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

Dr. Mike T. Nelson has spent 18 years of his life learning how the human body works, specifically focusing on how to properly condition it to burn fat and become stronger, more flexible, and healthier.

He’s has a PhD in Exercise Physiology, a BA in Natural Science, and an MS in Biomechanics. He’s an adjunct professor and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Nelson has been called in to share his techniques with top government agencies. The techniques he’s developed, and the results he gets for his clients have been featured in international magazines, in scientific publications, and on websites across the globe.

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Links:

Dr. Nelson on Instagram

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

Blair LaCorte is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging—the world’s first biomedical research institution dedicated solely to understanding aging and age-related diseases, and the largest independent scientific institute in the Bay Area. A seasoned leader and strategist, Blair has a track record of transforming companies across five industries, leveraging his expertise in change management to drive operational alignment, scale, and market leadership.

Most recently, he led AEye’s $1.5B IPO, advancing the company’s mission to enable safe, reliable vehicle autonomy. Prior to that, Blair served as Global President of PRG, the world’s largest live event technology and services company; CEO of XOJET, one of the fastest-growing aviation companies in history; and Senior Advisor and Operating Partner at TPG, a leading private equity firm managing over $97 billion in global investments. His earlier career includes executive roles at technology innovators such as VerticalNet, Savi Technologies, Autodesk, and Sun Microsystems.

Blair is an active board member and advisor to organizations spanning science, business, and education, including the Positive Coaching Alliance, the Kairos Society, the Graduate Business Foundation, and alma maters Dartmouth College and the University of Maine. His leadership has been recognized by Fast Company, Ad Age, NASA, and the ITAS “100 Most Influential Leaders in Transportation” list. His insights have been featured in Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and on major networks including ABC, Bloomberg, CNN, and CNBC.

Holding multiple patents across hardware, software, communications, security, and defense, Blair is also an astronaut-in-training and is scheduled to fly with Virgin Galactic. Outside of his professional pursuits, he is a dedicated father to three sons and the owner of a slightly anxious Weimaraner named Bella.

Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization

Links:

Blair LaCorte on LinkedIn

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

Aaron Straker is a N.A.S.N. Licensed Primary Sports Nutritionist. He prefers a pragmatic approach to nutrition that focuses on simple food selection, the importance of nutrient density, and the importance of objectivity in dieting and reporting.

Today on Barbell Shrugged we dive into Straker’s path to becoming and IFBB Pro. From injury, setbacks, discipline, and his transparent usage of performance enhancing drugs.

He is the cohost of Eat, Train, Prosper podcast with Barbell Shrugged guest, Bryan Boorstein.

Operating Straker Nutrition Company, he provides nutrition coaching programs and education on exactly how to leverage nutrition for improving body composition safely and sustainably.

Aaron is passionate about providing sound education and information in the fitness and nutrition space and putting nutrition at the forefront for producing optimal health.

Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization

Links:

Aaron Straker on Instagram

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged, we'll be discussing the various factors that impact brain health and exploring strategies for optimizing brain function.

First, we'll be discussing the impact of exercise on brain health. Research has shown that regular exercise can help to improve brain function, enhance cognitive performance, and even reduce the risk of certain neurological disorders. We'll also be discussing the types of exercise that are most beneficial for the brain.

Next, we'll be exploring the role of nutrition and supplements in promoting brain health. Certain foods and supplements have been shown to improve brain function and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. We'll be discussing which foods and supplements are most effective and how to incorporate them into your diet.

Stress is another important factor that can impact brain health. Chronic stress has been shown to have negative effects on the brain, including impairing cognitive function and increasing the risk of neurological disorders. We'll be exploring strategies for managing stress to optimize brain health.

There are several lab markers that can provide insights into brain health, such as inflammatory markers, lipid levels, and neurotrophic factors. We'll be discussing the significance of these markers and how they can be used to assess brain health.

Sleep is also essential for brain health, as it plays a critical role in memory consolidation and cognitive function. We'll be discussing the importance of getting adequate sleep and strategies for improving sleep quality.

Finally, we'll be exploring the impact of alcohol on the brain. While moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to have some health benefits, excessive alcohol consumption can have negative effects on brain function and increase the risk of neurological disorders.

To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthoptimization.com

Connect with our guests:

Dan Garner on Instagram

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

Melissa is a performance physical therapist and is heavily involved in the CrossFit space as a healthcare provider, as well as an athlete. Melissa grew up in the Metropolitan New York area, but now resides in the Tampa Bay area.

Upon graduating from PT school, Melissa started working in an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy practice, but was unsatisfied with what she was able to achieve there and the level of care provided for patients.

At the time, she was coaching remotely and decided to break away form the clinic altogether, and opened up her own practice. Melissa is now a remote rehab and performance coach, as well as a physical therapist with her clinic out of her affiliate, CrossFit Westchase in Largo, FL.

In addition, she is a proud member of the Rapid Health Optimization team as a movement specialist. When she’s not working or training, she enjoys getting outdoors in the beautiful Florida weather with her boyfriend, Darren.

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Links:

Dr. Melissa Capurro on Instagram

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged Dan Garner dives into how you can start to analyze your yearly bloodwork for performance.

Standard blood tests can be ordered around the globe, in every country, and are the gold standard for understanding basic health.

The normal reference ranges, however, are not giving you the answers you are looking for when it come to optimizing your health and performance.

In this episode you will learn:

• What's the mindset/philosophy of looking at bloodwork for performance if it's classically a health screen?

• Generally speaking, energy is what every performer needs regardless of their pursuit. How can one look at bloodwork to improve their energy levels?

• Electrolytes come on every panel, can these be used to look at hydration and performance?

• You've talked a bunch about the immune system in past podcasts so I'm wondering what a basic blood panel can tell us about the current state of our immunity?

• What general recommendations do you have in terms of preparation so when someone gets their blood draw they can ensure it's accurate?

To learn more, please visit rapidhealthoptimization.com to see Dr. Andy Galpin and Dan Garner do a free lab, lifestyle, and performance analysis.

Dan Garner on Instagram

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Bryan Boorstein has 24 years of training and over 13 years of coaching experience.

A 3-time CrossFit Regional athlete and CrossFit Games coach, Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science from JMU (2006) and certifications in CrossFit L-2 and Mobility.

As the owner and founder of Evolved Training Systems and Paragon Training Methods, he’s a trusted name in fitness. Bryan’s been featured on ESPN Radio and numerous podcasts, and he hosts the Eat Train Prosper podcast, sharing expert insights on training and nutrition.

Visit http://evolvedtrainingsystems.com for more.

Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization

Links:

Bryan Boorstein on Instagram

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram