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What if the key to a healthier, sharper brain wasn’t a pill or a special diet—but simply getting up and moving your body every day?

In this episode of the Strong By Design podcast, Coach Chris Wilson sits down with Dr. Charles Hillman, a world-renowned expert in cognitive neuroscience, exercise science, and neurocognitive kinesiology. Dr. Hillman has dedicated his career to understanding how physical activity affects brain function and cognitive performance, especially in children and older adults.

Their conversation explores how movement shapes the brain across the lifespan, from childhood to old age. Dr. Hillman shares groundbreaking research—like how fit kids have larger hippocampal volumes and stronger memory skills, and how lifelong activity can help protect against age-related cognitive decline.

He also discusses how a sedentary lifestyle can harm both physical and cognitive health, why schools need to prioritize physical education, and how parents can create movement-rich environments at home to support their kids’ brain development. Dr. Hillman’s work has even influenced U.S. public health policy through the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines, showing that staying active isn’t just good for the body—it’s essential for brain health and lifelong learning.

This is a powerful conversation for anyone who wants to stay sharp, feel energized, and keep their brain and body healthy for years to come.

Time Stamps

00:39 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
01:24 – Join Coach Chris Wilson with special guest, Dr Charles Hillman
04:34 – How Dr. Charles (Chuck) developed his fascination with the brain
12:30 – Coach Chris shares his passion for fitness and health
14:25 – How early-life activities influence the way we age
18:49 – What is the main reason many people don’t exercise?
22:08 – Learn about the health risks of being out of shape
26:51 – Our lack of emphasis on physical activity and physical education
31:26 – How other countries prioritize physical activity and health
36:04 – How physical movement influences key areas of brain function
40:45 – Chuck talks about sports and the study of movement
49:14 – Can your body easily bounce back after years without exercise?
54:50 – Benefits of being physically active as a family
59:33 – Please share and leave ratings and reviews for the SBD podcast!

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Resources:

TEDx Talk - How lifelong movement supports your brain - Christopher Wilson

Connect with Chuck:

Northeastern University College of Science

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In this episode, elite coach Eric Mitchell shares his journey from struggling athlete to world-class performance coach, revealing the life-changing lessons he learned along the way. From the heartbreak of losing his father to the breakthrough of finding faith, Eric’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless service to others.

Discover how his “Tsunami Effect” coaching method helps high performers conquer fear, anxiety, and self-doubt before they become overwhelming. Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or someone seeking a fresh start, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable wisdom.

Eric is a performance coach and leadership strategist with over three decades of experience helping athletes, executives, and educators overcome mental and physical barriers.

As the founder of The Tsunami Effect Coaching, he equips high performers to conquer fear, anxiety, depression, and frustration before they derail success. With a background spanning NFL combine training, youth performance academies, and corporate leadership, Mitchell’s transformative methods have impacted both fitness professionals and business leaders.

Time Stamps

01:00 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
01:24 – Join Jo Miller along with our special guest, Coach Eric Mitchell
02:29 – Eric shares his cultural experience and why he loves the team
05:07 – How Eric learned to be both approachable and tough
07:28 – A quick snapshot of who Coach Eric is and what he does
10:39 – Amazing story about how Eric got started as a coach
14:29 – Eric shares how he launched the Speed School
17:20 – Jo recalls a nice memory of her manager
18:54 – Eric explains what sets a trainer apart from a coach
23:00 – What coaching 'really' means, according to Eric
27:35 – What exactly is the Parisi Speed School?
31:17 – Jo shares about LifeBridge Health & Fitness and its community
36:10 – Eric receives the 'Loving Your Neighbor More Than Yourself' award
39:10 – The importance of story time in training – Eric shares his perspective
44:00 – What Eric does to stay in top shape
50:10 – Insights about how coaches confront players
52:47 – Eric opens up about what’s been happening in his life lately
59:01 – What the 'Tsunami Effect' Coaching is all about
1:05:09 – Looking ahead: Eric’s vision and next steps
1:08:46 – Jo talks about the vision board her husband Matt created
1:12:33 – How to stay connected with Coach Eric Mitchell
1:13:49 – Please share, and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!

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Resources:

Parisi Speed School

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Instagram

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In this heartwarming episode, Coach Chris Wilson sits down with entertainer and comedian Danny Adams, a man who has been bringing joy to audiences for over 30 years. Danny shares his incredible journey from childhood dreams of showbiz to starring in the faith-based kids’ show, Iggy & Mr. Kirk.

Danny believes that laughter is one of the greatest medicines—not just for kids, but for adults too. Together, Chris and Danny explore the transformative power of humor, the importance of faith-based media, and the unique challenges and rewards of creating a show that is both fun and meaningful for the next generation.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, or just someone who loves a good laugh, this conversation will leave you smiling—and maybe even feeling a little more hopeful about the world we are shaping for our kids.

Time Stamps

00:49 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
03:00 – Meet today’s special guest, Danny Adams
05:51 – How Danny got started in show business
09:03 – What brought Danny to Los Angeles as an adult
09:50 – What Danny is up to with his show now
11:50 – Chris and Danny talk about cherished moments of laughter
14:06 – The moment young Danny knew this was his life’s calling
18:07 – What laughter really does for the heart, mind, and soul
19:33 – Behind the scenes of "Iggy and Mr. Kirk"
22:29 – Danny reveals how he was chosen for the show
25:50 – Danny highlights what we learn in each episode
28:28 – Chris talks about a previous episode featuring Kirk Cameron
34:02 – Danny shares feedback from others about the show
36:26 – Explanation of how the team brings the puppets to life
39:06 – Find out where to stream the episodes and full season
41:42 – Danny shares some insight into their household
43:22 – How to stay connected with Danny Adams
44:40 – Please share and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!

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Resources:

Watch Iggy and Mr. Kirk on BRAVE+

Danny Adams Testimonial Reel

Check out BRAVE Books

Connect with Danny:

Instagram

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Instagram

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In today’s deeply inspiring episode of the Strong By Design podcast, Coach Chris Wilson introduces his friend and ministry leader, John Chalkias, founder of Seeds of Hope Children’s Ministry™. John prerecorded a very special message directly from Zambia.

What began in 1996 as a single home for children with HIV/AIDS in Thailand has grown into a world-changing mission — one that’s saving and transforming lives in Zambia today. A 72-acre self-sustaining refuge for African children.

Through the Buseko Children’s Home and Grace Academy, John and his team are doing something no one else in the world is doing:

Providing love, family, medical care, and education to children affected by HIV/AIDS in a Christ-centered boarding school environment.

This is powerful testimony from John about faith in action, the value of every child, and the kind of healing that happens when someone is told, “You matter. You are not forgotten.”

John is the true definition of a Kingdom man. He is doing God’s good work half a world away and changing the lives of children forever. Thank you John for all that you do, we love you!

Time Stamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
00:35 – Meet today’s special guest, John Chalkias
03:42 – John on transforming lives at Grace Academy, Zambia
06:30 – What they were able to develop at Grace Academy
07:43 – John highlights unique skills and strengths seen in the kids
10:00 – Why forgiveness is so important for these kids
18:45 – Learn how bonds at Grace Academy last beyond graduation
21:05 – John shares updates on international project expansion
24:09 – How can people support John’s mission, get involved, and learn more
25:55 – Please share, and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!

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If you haven’t yet left a Rating or Review for the Strong By Design Podcast we would be honored if you would.

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Resources:

Seeds of Hope Children’s Ministry

Connect with John:

Instagram

Connect with Chris:

Instagram

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Celebrating 7 Years of Strong By Design – Our Most Iconic Episodes Ever!

400 episodes. 7 years. Countless lives impacted.

This special anniversary episode of the Strong By Design podcast is one for the books.

Co-hosts Coach Chris Wilson and Jared Haley take a walk down memory lane to celebrate the conversations that have left a lasting mark — from the most controversial to the most heartfelt.

Chris shares his personal favorites, including deep dives on brain health, the power of hope, fatherhood, and unexpected health hacks (like coffee enemas and saunas). Jared brings the heat with powerful episodes on faith, culture, education, and parenting in a world that often feels upside down.

Their top picks include:

🔞 The Truth About Porn (Ep 109–213, S2–S4)
🧠 5 Habits to Protect Your Brain (Parts 1 & 2) (Ep 305–306, S6)
🌅 Why You Can’t Live Without Hope (Ep 208, S4)
🧔 Why Dads Matter (Ep 326, S6)
🏋️ Weight Lifting is a Waste of Time (Ep 149, S3)
🤝 An Unbreakable Bond for Life (Ep 217, S4)
☕ Are Coffee Enemas and Saunas the Answer to ALL Health Issues? ft. Eileen Durfee (Ep 199, S4)
📖 Faith and Family BANNED in America ft. Kirk Cameron (Ep 316, S6)
🏫 Education vs. Indoctrination – How the Public School System is Hijacking Your Kids ft. Sam Sorbo (Ep 320, S6)
❤️ Why Love Does NOT Equal Acceptance ft. Pastor Q – Mark Quattrochi (Ep 323, S6)
🎯 The 5 C’s of Credibility ft. John Streitmatter (Ep 335, S6)
🎸 I Almost Lost My Family to Rock ‘n’ Roll ft. Stephen Christian (Ep 337, S6)
👨‍👩‍👧 Parenting the Way God Designed ft. Pastor Anthony McDaniel (Ep 395, S7)

If you’ve ever been moved by a Strong By Design episode — this is the one you don’t want to miss. It’s a celebration of our mission to help men and women become strong in body, mind, and spirit… and a bold look at what’s next.

🎧 Thank you for helping us reach 400 episodes. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Time Stamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
01:30 – Join hosts Chris Wilson and Jared Haley for our 400th-episode anniversary special
01:38 – Can you guess how long we’ve been podcasting?
03:40 – What makes this 400th episode so special?
08:30 – Should everyone consider homeschooling?
15:55 – Key considerations for our health
27:48 – What are the hidden consequences of adult content?
31:40 – Why it’s vital to guide kids through today’s media and messages
35:51 – How do we truly define love?
39:36 – Why aren’t Christians producing engaging entertainment?
46:13 – Jared confesses to his hilariously epic spelling fails
57:16 – Chris on The PowerBreak podcast
01:02:18 – Jared explores the personas people adopt
01:10:55 – Exploring the unique bond between mothers and their babies
01:15:30 – Listener feedback: What our audience is saying
01:23:03 – Curious why Chris got so irritated in this episode?

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Today on Strong By Design Engineer-turned-cattle-enthusiast Noel Heiks and cowboy-commando Kevin Key dive into the impacts of Big Food, Farming, and Pharma.

The authors embark on an adventure of food and diet, away from standard insulin-heavy fare and toward better ways of beef, keto, and carnivore.

Their book encourages us to break the shackles of the modern medical system keeping us fat and sick, and turn to the thriving doctors embracing beef, butter, and bacon. The story rides through the ranches to meet the producers who are key to an animal-based future filled with cows.

Noel Heiks and Kevin Key are the authors of The Cow Is How: To Fix Food, Farming, and Pharma. The book is a saga inspired by fighting a family's diabetes, Parkinson's, and mental health issues induced by a Standard American Diet. The authors travel on a journey through Industrial Agriculture in America, where the food we grow destroys not only the health of our people, but that of our heartland.

Through this book, the authors share the secret to restore our country to vitality and prosperity. The Cow Is How.

Time Stamps

00:56 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
01:20 – Meet today’s special guests, Noel Heiks & Kevin Key
03:05 – How it all started: Noel & Kevin's career background revealed
09:12 – Farm facts: Misconceptions about raising cows
19:43 – How marketing influences what you eat
25:39 – Noel talks about her father’s health
29:59 – What is the carnivore keto diet all about?
38:50 – Challenges Noel & Kevin faced writing the book
41:00 – What should you do to feel better?
46:05 – Key takeaways from Noel and Kevin
51:15 – For more from Noel Heiks & Kevin Key, read The Cow Is How
51:52 – Please share and leave a rating & review for the SBD podcast!

Resources:

· The Cow is How – Check out the book!

Connect with Noel & Kevin:

· Noel on Instagram

· Kevin on Instagram

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In this episode of the Strong by Design podcast, host Jared Haley sits down with local business owner and health trainer Abby Clapper.

Abby is dedicated to helping people build sustainable fitness routines, lose weight, and feel strong in their bodies. With a passion for making fitness accessible and enjoyable, Abby combines expert knowledge with a real-life approach, encouraging clients to focus on strength, consistency, and confidence over quick fixes.

She also hosts the podcast ‘Talk Your Abs Off’ and shares insights on fitness, well-being, and mindset.

During their conversation, Abby opens up about her struggle with alcohol, and shares her story on her road to sobriety.

Not only does she share the spiritual implications of being a slave to alcohol, she also shares how her sobriety has transformed her mentally and physically as well. Take a listen and learn how a healthy relationship with alcohol can lead you to a life that is Strong by Design.

Time Stamps

00:52 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!

01:44 – Meet today’s special guest, Abby Clapper

03:10 – Abby reflects on when she began drinking and the effects it had on her

12:02 – What Jared's parents instilled in him about responsibility and driving

13:33 – The lesson Abby took away from reading 'Quit Like a Woman'

16:50 – Abby unpacks the deeper consequences of alcohol over time

20:53 – The moment Abby realized something in her life had to change

22:24 – Can you guess how long Abby’s been sober?

28:27 – Does Abby’s faith in Jesus play a role in her sobriety?

30:33 – What the Bible says about drinking

34:45 – Helpful strategies Abby used to quit drinking

38:22 – Navigating relationships that make it harder to stay sober

41:52 – Abby introduces her podcast, Talk Your Abs Off, and what it's all about

43:24 – Please share, and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!

Resources:

· Talk Your Abs Off Podcast

Connect with Abby:

· Instagram

· Facebook

Connect with Jared:

· Instagram

· Facebook

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The Mad Scientist of Muscle is back…

If you are looking for some new muscle building methods, this is the guy to listen to!

Our friend Nick Nilsson has released a new book titled, Return to Prime – Reset Your Muscle Clock Back 20 Years.

So naturally we just named the episode after his book 😉

Every stone has been turned over and every corner of the globe explored.

Nick is known as the mad scientist of muscle because he tries EVERYTHING possible to naturally build muscle from his home gym.

And he has gotten pretty darn good at it over the last 20+ years!

If you are not familiar with Nick, we encourage you to go back and listen to past episodes listed below and be sure to follow him on IG, FB and YouTube for more of his extraordinary content.

Past episodes with Nick:

Ep 282 – The MAD Scientist of Muscle ft. Nick Nilsson

Ep 41 – Metamorphosis – Rebuilding Your Body from the Inside Out with Nick Nilsson

Time Stamps

01:01 – Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
01:44 – Meet today’s special guest, Nick Nilsson
05:38 – Nick shares insights into the gaps and mistakes in his training
10:59 – Maximizing training with simple equipment
15:43 – Understanding sarcopenia and how to maintain muscle mass
20:30 – The effects of disrupting testosterone levels
26:19 – Discovering Angiogenesis Training and its benefits
34:06 – An introduction to Connective Tissue Training
43:42 – What is Hyperplasia Training, and how does it work?
47:20 – Fast-twitch vs. slow-twitch muscle fibers: What’s the difference?
50:53 – Understanding Nervous System Efficiency Training
58:59 – Controlled overtraining - Accumulation vs. Intensification
1:01:45 – What’s the main purpose of Return to Prime? Nick explains
1:09:41 – Want more from Nick Nilsson? Visit his website to learn more
1:11:14 - Please share, and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!

Resources:

· Check out Nick’s book, Return to Prime

Connect with Nick:

· Instagram

· Facebook

· YouTube

Connect with Chris:

· Instagram

· Facebook

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