Faithful Fitness By Better Daily Podcast By Coach Alex VanHouten cover art

Faithful Fitness By Better Daily

Faithful Fitness By Better Daily

By: Coach Alex VanHouten
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Welcome to Faithful Fitness, where we train our bodies and strengthen our faith!
💪🙏

This channel is dedicated to Bible-based fitness, health, and mindset growth so you can honor God through disciplined stewardship.What You’ll Find Here:

🔥 Workouts & Training Tips – Get stronger with faith-driven fitness.
📖 Biblical Health & Stewardship – Align scripture & science for lasting wellness.
🎙️ Inspiring Interviews – Hear from health & fitness experts from all over the globe.
🚀 Community Challenges – 40 days of fitness, faith, and transformation in community!

Your body is a temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20)—let’s train hard, pray harder, and grow 1% better daily!📌 Subscribe Now & Join the Movement!💥

Pre-order Is Open! Reserve your copy of "Faithful Fitness" Today! https://betterdaily.live/devo

#FaithfulFitness #my1percent #GIGAfit

*You can also catch episodes from Defining Dad Bod and Better Daily Live (2017-now) in this archive!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-by-better-daily--5150768/support.Copyright The Betterment Co Christianity Hygiene & Healthy Living Ministry & Evangelism Personal Development Personal Success Spirituality
Episodes
  • The Bible's Warning About Addiction (And How To Take Back Control)

    The Bible's Warning About Addiction (And How To Take Back Control)
    Dec 18 2025
    Episode Summary
    //👉 Subscribe here: https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com/contact //

    Most Christians have been told addiction is a failure of willpower. Scripture says something far more serious: addiction is slavery. In this solo episode of the Faithful Fitness Podcast, Coach Alex VanHouten dismantles the shame-based, slogan-driven approach to addiction and replaces it with a biblical and neuroscience-grounded framework for freedom.

    Drawing from Scripture, modern brain science, and personal loss, this episode explores how addiction hijacks agency—and how embodied Christian stewardship restores it. You’ll learn why shame worsens addiction, how the brain actually changes under compulsive behavior, and the four God-designed interventions that reclaim dominion over mind and body: exercise, community, awe, and rhythm This is not theory.

    This is lived conviction—and a call for the Church to do better.

    Main Discussion Topics
    • Why addiction is enslavement, not weakness
    • How shame accelerates relapse and destroys agency What neuroscience reveals about the addicted brain.
    • Why exercise restores executive function and self-control
    • The biblical and physiological necessity of community How awe interrupts compulsive behavior and expands meaning
    • Why structure, rhythm, and routine are required for grace to take root
    • Stewardship as an act of love—not legalism

    Key Scriptures Referenced
    1 Corinthians 6:12, 19–20 — “I will not be mastered by anything… your body is a temple”
    1 Timothy 4:7 — “Train yourself for godliness”
    James 5:16 — Confession, witness, and healing
    Proverbs 9:10 — Awe and the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom

    Quick Research Reference List
    Lynch et al., 2013 — Exercise and substance use disorders
    Wang et al., 2014 — Physical activity and dopamine regulation
    Heilig et al., 2016 — Addiction, stress, and social bonding Kelly et al.,
    2017 — Recovery capital and community
    Stellar et al., 2017 — Awe and prosocial behavior
    Walker, 2017 — Sleep and executive function

    Timestamped Outline
    00:00 – Why slogans and shame fail
    00:30 – Addiction as loss of agency, not moral collapse
    01:45 – The brain science of enslavement
    02:30 – Exercise as a non-negotiable for freedom
    03:00 – Training as embodied obedience
    03:45 – Isolation vs healing community
    04:40 – Awe as a neuro-spiritual intervention
    05:18 – Order, rhythm, and structure in recovery
    06:15 – Stewardship, dominion, and the mission of Faithful Fitness
    07:24 – Final charge: one faithful act at a time

    Core Takeaway
    Your body and mind are not the enemy—but they are the first territory that must be reclaimed. Addiction is not overcome by trying harder. It is overcome by training wisely, living in truth, and ordering your life under God’s design.

    Calls to Action
    📩 Join the Newsletter — Letter to the Faithful Weekly clarity at the intersection of faith, physiology, discipline, and stewardship. No hype. No spam. Just truth for people trying to live faithfully in a disordered world.

    👉 Subscribe here: https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com/contact

    📖 Get the Faithful Fitness Devotional A 40-day, embodied discipleship guide built around Integrity, Grit, Growth, and Awe—designed to help you reclaim dominion over body and soul.

    👉 Learn more & get your copy: https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com

    Share This Episode If this episode helped you, don’t hoard it.

    Share it with someone who’s fighting silently.

    Freedom multiplies when it’s witnessed.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-by-better-daily--5150768/support.
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    9 mins
  • Why God Cares That Your Strong (Not Just "Saved")

    Why God Cares That Your Strong (Not Just "Saved")
    Dec 11 2025
    Episode Summary
    In this episode of the Faithful Fitness Podcast, Coach Alex sits down with personal trainer and writer Christina Barkley, founder of Dogged Strength. Christina shares her journey from Hollywood’s entertainment world to a Christ-centered fitness practice, recounting how a powerful encounter with God shifted her perspective on health and strength.

    Together, Alex and Christina unpack the truth about New Year’s resolutions, why so many fail, and how to approach fitness with a mindset of stewardship rather than vanity. They also discuss discipleship through training, practical ways to set sustainable goals, and the importance of integrating faith into every part of life—including workouts.

    Christina also gives listeners a glimpse into her upcoming book Lean Through the Fire and how her writing and training both flow from her desire to serve others and glorify God. This conversation is equal parts encouragement and practical wisdom for anyone seeking to honor God with their body and start the new year strong in faith and fitness.

    Main Discussion Themes
    -Christina’s journey from casting in Hollywood to co-founding Dogged Strength with her husband.
    -A powerful testimony of God’s protection in a life-threatening moment.
    -How discipleship and training overlap—“rubbing off” through proximity and practice.
    -Why New Year’s resolutions often fail—and how to redeem them under Christ.
    -Fitness as stewardship versus vanity (California’s image obsession vs. the Bible Belt’s neglect).
    -Practical strategies for consistency: goal-setting, accountability, and performance-based goals.
    -The importance of integrating Scripture and prayer into training sessions.
    -A behind-the-scenes look at Christina’s upcoming novel Lean Through the Fire.

    Timestamped Outline
    00:00 – 07:00 | Christina’s story: from Equinox trainer to launching Dogged Strength with her husband.
    07:00 – 15:00 | A powerful alleyway encounter and the shift from vanity fitness to strength for life. 15:00 – 22:00 | Training as discipleship: “rubbing off” in proximity and practice.
    22:00 – 30:00 | Scriptures that fuel Christina’s fitness journey (Proverbs 3:5–7, 1 Corinthians 15:58). 30:00 – 38:00 | Redeeming New Year’s resolutions: small, consistent goals over quick fixes.
    38:00 – 46:00 | Vanity vs. stewardship in different cultural contexts (California vs. Arkansas).
    46:00 – 55:00 | Service, mental health, and fitness: how focusing on others changes everything. 55:00 – 01:00:00 | Christina’s upcoming book Lean Through the Fire: faith, friendship, and trials. 01:00:00 – 01:04:00 | Rapid fire Q&A: myths about women and weights, overcoming “failure” in fitness.
    01:04:00 – End | Christina’s encouragement to integrate God into all areas of life + closing prayer.

    Move Forward Today
    -Get Coach Alex's new book today! Faithful Fitness Devotional (40-Day Guide): https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com
    -Join the BetterDaily community! Faith And Fitness Foundations: https://betterdaily.live/beginner
    -Commit to Consistency – Don’t aim for five workouts a week out of the gate. Start small, be consistent, and let God build your strength over time.
    -Write Your Goals – Like Christina suggests, email or write down your 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year fitness goals for accountability.
    -Shift from Vanity to Stewardship – Fitness isn’t about perfection in the mirror—it’s about honoring God with your body.
    -Connect with Christina – Subscribe to her newsletter (link below in featured guest resources) for encouragement in both faith and fitness.

    Featured Guest Resources
    -Christina Barkley’s Website & Newsletter → https://writingwhileweightlifting.substack.com/
    -Dogged Strength (Christina & her husband’s training company)
    - https://www.instagram.com/doggedstrength/?hl=en

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-by-better-daily--5150768/support.
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    57 mins
  • Christian Athletes vs. the World: Preparing Young Athletes for Spiritual Warfare with Drake Reed

    Christian Athletes vs. the World: Preparing Young Athletes for Spiritual Warfare with Drake Reed
    Dec 4 2025
    Episode Summary
    What happens when athletic excellence outpaces spiritual maturity? In this powerful conversation, Coach Drake Reed—former professional basketball player, high-school coach, and author—reveals the hidden spiritual battles facing young athletes today.

    From locker rooms and college campuses to overseas professional leagues, Drake exposes why many Christian athletes collapse after success, not before it. This episode challenges parents, coaches, and athletes to rethink discipleship, identity, and preparation.

    Athletic training alone is not enough. Without spiritual armor, discipline, and practical prayer, talent becomes a liability instead of a calling. If you’re raising, coaching, or are an athlete navigating modern sports culture, this conversation is not optional listening—it’s essential.

    Main Discussion Themes
    -Identity in Christ vs. identity as an athlete
    -Why young athletes need spiritual training before visibility and fame
    -The unseen spiritual pressures in college and professional sports
    -Practical prayer, protection, and biblical literacy for athletes
    -Why parents must disciple earlier than feels comfortable
    -Coaching as spiritual shepherding, not just skill development
    -Faith, discipline, and stewardship of athletic influence

    Timestamped Outline
    00:00 – 05:30 Clarksville roots, shared athletic culture, and spiritual intentionality in sports
    05:30 – 12:00 From elite athlete to globe-trotting professional basketball career
    12:00 – 18:00 Identity crisis: Athlete first, Christ later—why this breaks young men
    18:00 – 26:30 Why Christian athletes are dangerously unprepared when they leave home
    26:30 – 33:30 Coaching as discipleship: practical spiritual “drills,” not vague faith talk
    33:30 – 40:30 Spiritual warfare in sports culture (college, overseas, media attention)
    40:30 – 49:00 Phones, social media, and unguarded spiritual access to young athletes
    49:00 – 56:30 Parents, models, and influence: what kids absorb before discernment forms
    56:30 – 01:02:00 Prayer, protection, and declarations over athletes and families

    Move Forward Today
    ✅Get Coach Alex's new book today! Faithful Fitness Devotional (40-Day Guide): https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com
    ✅Join the BetterDaily community! Faith And Fitness Foundations: https://betterdaily.live/beginner ✅ If you’re an athlete: Evaluate whether your discipline exceeds your discipleship.
    ✅ If you’re a parent: Ask what spiritual tools your child has before visibility and pressure arrive.
    ✅ If you’re a coach: Recognize the mantle you carry—your influence extends far beyond the court. ✅ Take action: Read Christian Athletes vs. the World and The Protection Manual to equip yourself and your family.

    Featured Guest & Resources
    Christian Athletes vs. the World:
    The Protection Manual:

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-by-better-daily--5150768/support.
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    1 hr
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