In this powerful episode of the Life Lifted Podcast, we tackle a growing issue that affects millions of men worldwide: depression. With rates of depression in men increasing by nearly 20% over the last decade, it's more important than ever to understand the underlying causes and explore how fitness can be a transformative tool in improving mental health.

We dive deep into the alarming statistics behind men’s mental health, examine the societal and economic pressures contributing to this rise, and break down the stigma that often prevents men from seeking help. Most importantly, we highlight how fitness—whether it’s strength training, aerobic exercise, or mindfulness-based activities—can help men regain control of their mental well-being.

Join us as we share practical tips, personal stories, and expert insights on how to create a balanced fitness routine that not only strengthens the body but also heals the mind. Whether you're looking to support a man in your life or improve your own mental health, this episode is for you.

Take the first step toward better mental and physical health. Tune in, share with a friend, and let’s break the silence together.

We return to our regular scheduled program after an unanticipated Summer break!

Life Happens.

On this episode, we catch up on life. But this isn't just any regular catch up session--a lot has happened this Summer.

Mike shares some of the challenges that he's been through over the past 2 months, including an incident that landed him at the urgent care and sidelined him for....well you have to listen to find out.

Chris also shares some updates on life and we talk about the mindset of dealing with unexpected challenges. If you've had some rough days, we are here with you and we talk about how we get through life when things don't go as planned.

We also discuss some fitness stories about getting results with less effort. finding the right tool for the job you need to accomplish with your health a fitness, and reflecting on over half of 2024.

We also share some fun stories about a recent trip we took with several of our trainer friends to Big Bear.

Lots of stories on this episode!

We hope you enjoy hearing about our lives and how we navigate the challenges and good times and you can relate. We're excited to be back!

In our special guest series, we invite Dr. Yonnie Proctor to share with us her unique perspective of physical therapy and the new and fascinating approach with her clients. On her Instagram @yonniestyle, she describes herself as "I treat and train dope humans."

We have the privilege of working alongside Yonnie at our local gym in West Hollywood and witnessing her unique and personalized approach, so we couldn't wait to talk to her. Yonnie shares her story of growing up and how she chose Physical Therapy as her profession and how she has evolved through different experiences to where she is now.

It's exciting to hear that she is on the forefront of a unique approach to not only helping her clients with physical pain but also optimizing their body for performance in life after they've progressed out of pain. Most people will go see a physical therapist at some point in life, so understanding this approach is something that is interesting and helpful.

We also discuss how someone can become their own advocate in the current healthcare system if they need care like physical therapy, how to prevent injuries, and what kind of training approach a physical therapist takes with a client. It's a very fascinating conversation.

How does a physical therapist train a client in a gym that is different from a personal trainer and where do you draw the distinction in "training?" A lot of the difference is based on client needs and outcome goals. How do you determine your outcome goals of your body? We dive in to these questions and so much more in this special episode!

Follow Yonnie @yonniestyle for more about her approach and her passion for pickleball.