Flex Diet Podcast
by Dr. Mike T Nelson
Latest episode
Stop Overcomplicating Fat Loss: Short Workouts & Simple Habits —…
Stop Overcomplicating Fat Loss: Short Workouts & Simple Habits —…
About this podcast
Dr. Mike T Nelson gets geeky with the latest research and scientific findings in the fitness world. Visit www.flexdiet.com to get Flex Diet Certified and www.miketnelson.com for more geeky goodness.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 419 episodes
- Stop Overcomplicating Fat Loss: Short Workouts & Simple Habits — Harley Pasternak — #412 · 59 min · Episode 412Does getting in shape really require longer workouts and more fitness data? Celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak joins Dr. Mike T Nelson to discuss short strength sessions…
- Do You Really Need Zone 2? HIIT, Heat & Smarter Endurance — Jonah Rosner — #411 · 1 h 6 min · Episode 411Does everyone really need two to three hours of Zone 2 each week? Sport scientist Jonah Rosner joins Dr. Mike T Nelson to explore when higher-intensity work makes sense, how to…
- Do Fighters Really Need Zone 2? Heart Rate Recovery, Sprint Intervals & NIRS — James de Lacey — #410 · 1 h 24 min · Episode 410Do fighters really need zone 2 cardio? Strength and conditioning coach James de Lacey of Sweet Science of Fighting joins Dr. Mike T Nelson to challenge the "big aerobic base…
- Will AI Replace Online Coaches? Peptides, TRT & Rower Cardio — Bryan Krahn — #409 · 1 h 27 min · Episode 409Will AI replace online coaches, or only the ones who stop being human? Veteran online coach and Men's Health author Bryan Krahn joins Dr. Mike T Nelson for a candid, unfiltered…
- Detox Beyond the Liver: Clearance Pathways & Body Burden with Dr. Gregory Kelly — #408 · 1 h 2 min · Episode 408Detox is more than a liver story—and it is not a juice cleanse. Dr. Gregory Kelly of Qualia Life explains how clearance pathways work together, why mobilizing stored chemicals is…
- Beyond the Basics with Physiologic Flexibility: Certification Course is Now Open · 15 min · Episode 408In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I break down why I built the Physiologic Flexibility Certification (PhysFlex) as a “level two” continuation after you’ve already got the…
- Strength Is a Skill: Sensory Training, the Nervous System & Neuroplasticity with Dr. Jordan Shallow — #407 · 1 h 30 min · Episode 407Is getting stronger really about muscle, or about how well your nervous system learns the lift? Dr. Jordan Shallow, “The Muscle Doc,” explains why strength and size follow skill…
- Is Zone 2 Overrated? HIIT, VO2 Max & Metabolic Flexibility with Dr. Martin Gibala — #405 · 1 h 2 min · Episode 406Can short bursts of hard cardio outperform hours of Zone 2 for the average person? Exercise physiologist Dr. Martin Gibala explains how HIIT can improve VO2 max and metabolic…
- Episode 404: Whole-Body MRI, CT Scans, and What Imaging Can Tell You — Matthew Paul Clemons, MD · 1 h 21 min · Episode 405Whole-body MRI promises a detailed look under the hood—but what can a quick screening scan actually see, miss, and send you chasing? Diagnostic radiologist Dr. Paul Clemons…
- AI Disclosure, Deepfakes & the Death of Expertise — Dean Guedo & Jeb Stuart Johnston — #404 · 1 h 19 min · Episode 404Dean Guedo and Jeb Stuart Johnston (the Food on the Mind duo) join Dr. Mike T Nelson for their yearly AI check-in, getting into whether creators should disclose AI use and why…
- Building a Fitness Empire: Business Lessons, Zone 2 & Recovery Trends with Don Saladino — #403 · 1 h 20 min · Episode 403Don Saladino has spent nearly three decades training A-list stars like Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman -- and here he shares the single business lesson he wishes he'd learned…
- VO2 Max, Zone 2 Training & the Psychology of Human Performance — Ben Skutnik — #402 · 1 h 36 min · Episode 402Dr. Ben Skutnik (PhD, CSCS*D) joins the show to separate fact from fad in aerobic training, debunking zone 2 hype and explaining why VO2 max matters but isn't everything. We also…
- Psychedelics, Neuroplasticity and the Military-to-Spiritual Journey with Rick Alexander — #401 · 1 h 14 min · Episode 401Rick Alexander was a Special Operations combat medic until a single psychedelic experience shattered his worldview and sent him back to school to study psychedelic spiritual…
- Build Aerobic Fitness Before Mitochondrial Peptides: AMPK, VO2 Max & Recovery — Dr. Dwayne Jackson — #400 · 1 h 19 min · Episode 400Mitochondrial peptides may be promising, but they cannot replace the aerobic base that makes their effects measurable. Dr. Dwayne Jackson explains AMPK and mitochondrial…
- Episode 399: Urolithin A, Mitochondrial Health, and Nutrition for Pro Athletes — Dr. Emily Werner · 1 h 9 min · Episode 399Dr. Emily Werner — team dietitian for the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) and Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), and Nutrition Affairs Sport Lead at Timeline — joins Dr. Mike to unpack…
- Getting Back to Nutrition Basics: Gut Health, Micronutrients & Training with Zach Moore · 1 h 16 min · Episode 398Nutrition and exercise coach Zach Moore joins Dr. Mike to strip fitness back to fundamentals — why most lifters overthink programming, how to build strength with minimal volume…
- How elite bodybuilders think about problem-solving, business and nutrition with Coach Cliff Wilson · 1 h 15 min · Episode 397Getting better doesn't make hard things feel easier—it makes you capable of doing more. Cliff Wilson explains the mental skills behind elite physiques, why context beats internet…
- Are Your Peptides Illegal? — Rick Collins — #396 · 1 h 8 min · Episode 396Peptides are everywhere right now, but most of what's sold online as BPC-157 or TB-500 is illegal — and the FDA is about to decide what happens next. Attorney Rick Collins, a…
- What Coaching Air Force Pilots Taught Me About Real Performance — Sam Brown — #395 · 1 h 14 min · Episode 395Sam Brown spends his days training Air Force pilots and aircrew who run on nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol — and almost never turn off their nervous system. He reveals why the…
- The Counseling Skills Nutrition Coaches Are Missing — Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon — #394 · 1 h 29 min · Episode 394Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon reveals the counseling techniques that most nutrition coaches have never learned — and why mastering them matters more than any protocol. She explains why…
- From Powerlifter to Trail Runner — Paul Oneid & Cody Miller — #393 · 1 h 20 min · Episode 393Paul Oneid tore both quads and rebuilt himself from powerlifter to trail runner, with coach Cody Miller guiding the transition. They break down the emergent training approach…
- How to Harness Leucine and EAA for Bigger Muscles and More — Daniel A. Traylor, Ph.D. — #392 · 1 h 40 min · Episode 392Can you really build more muscle just by rethinking how you dose leucine and essential amino acids? Dr. Daniel A. Traylor, Ph.D. — co-founder and principal scientist of LEUVATE™…
- Flex Diet Cert Closes at Midnight Mon 6/22/2026 and Coaching Leverage — #391 · 13 min · Episode 391Dr. Mike T. Nelson explains why sleep—despite being a massive physiological lever—ranks last among the eight interventions in the Flex Diet Certification. The key concept…
- Antibiotics, Gut Microbiome, and the Exercise Connection — Dr. Sara Campbell — #390 · 1 h 10 min · Episode 390Dr. Sara Campbell returns to discuss her lab's cutting-edge research on the bidirectional relationship between exercise and the gut microbiome — including why consumer gut tests…
- The Flex Diet Cert is OPEN and AI vs Coaching Solocast — #389 · 17 min · Episode 389Dr. Mike T. Nelson discusses how AI is shaping the coaching industry — where it falls short, where it shines, and why human coaches still matter. Plus: the Flex Diet…
- What Vinegar & Lifting Really Do To Your Gut — Dr. Emily Dow — #388 · 1 h 18 min · Episode 388Dr. Emily Dow, PhD, RD, researches where nutrition, resistance training, and gut health actually meet — and where the science gets oversold. We get into what her 12-week…
- Episode 387: Nathan T. Jenkins on Metabolic Flexibility, Aerobic Base, and First Principles · 1 h 33 min · Episode 387In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Nathan Jenkins to discuss how to improve performance, body composition, and long-term health through the lens of…
- Episode 386: Nervous System Regulation, Somatics, and Stress Resilience with Tracy Holemeyer · 1 h 53 min · Episode 386In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my friend Tracy Holemeyer (Uncontrollably Me, host of the Other Way to See It podcast) to talk about healing and…
- Episode 385: Rob Wilson on BJJ Performance Frameworks, Grip Training, Recovery Tech & The Check Engine Light Book · 1 h 33 min · Episode 385In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with human performance specialist and coach Rob Wilson for a wide-ranging conversation that spans music, coach education, and…
- Episode 384: Building Strength & Muscle After 50 (Without Getting Hurt) with Chad Landers · 1 h 14 min · Episode 384In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I talk with my good buddy Chad Landers, veteran trainer, strength coach, and author of Building Strength and Muscle After 50, about how…
- Episode 383: Body Composition, Strength Training, and Sustainable Habits with Martin Silva · 56 min · Episode 383In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m on the road and sit down with strength coach Martin Silva to talk about how to improve body composition, performance, and long-term…
- Episode 382: Creatine for Muscle, Bone, Brain & Longevity (Plus Caffeine, Dosing, and Safety) with Dr. Darren Candow · 53 min · Episode 382In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with creatine researcher Dr. Darren Candow from the University of Regina to break down what the research actually says about…
- Episode 381: PhysFlex Cert Closing Tonight: Eustress vs Distress, the 4 Pillars, and Applying Recovery Tools the Right Way · 16 min · Episode 380In this short Flex Diet Podcast episode, I share a reminder that the PhysFlex Surge enrollment closes Monday, April 27, 2026 at midnight PST, and I give more context on what’s…
- Episode 380: Breathing, CO2 Regulation, and Performance: Deep Dive with Respiratory & Sleep Scientist Martin McPhilimey · 1 h 4 min · Episode 381In this episode, I sit down with respiratory and sleep scientist Martin McPhilimey to do a deep dive into breathing, CO₂ regulation, and how it actually impacts performance…
- Episode 379: Physiologic Flexibility Certification Open: Temperature, pH, Fuels, and Breathing for Performance · 18 min · Episode 380In this episode, I talk about the Physiologic Flexibility Certification open from April 20 to April 27 and where to get all the details. At the core is physiologic flexibility…
- Episode 378: Red Light Therapy: Sunlight, Mitochondria, Sleep, and How to Use Devices Correctly with Ari Whitten · 58 min · Episode 379In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good buddy Ari Whitten to talk all about red light therapy (photobiomodulation) and why it’s become so popular…
- Episode 377: Methylene Blue for Mitochondria & Performance: Benefits, Dosing & Risks with Dr. Scott Sherr · 1 h 4 min · Episode 378In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Scott Sherr to take a deep dive into methylene blue, mitochondrial function, and where the truth lies between online…
- Episode 376: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Benefits for Recovery, Performance & Cancer Support with Dr. Masha Makeeva · 1 h 10 min · Episode 377In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Masha Makeeva, a physician specializing in integrative and regenerative medicine, to get a clear, practical…
- Episode 375: Cardio vs. Lifting: Which Should You Prioritize for Health? A short solo update. · 17 min · Episode 376A physician buddy asked me whether the general population should focus on cardio or lifting — and I wanted to share my answer with you. In this solo cast, I break down why cardio…
- Episode 374: Zone 2 Cardio: What the Science Really Says (Pros, Cons & Better Options) with Kristi Storoschuk · 1 h 17 min · Episode 375In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my friend Kristi Storoschuk, a PhD candidate in exercise physiology, to unpack her review paper on zone 2 cardio and…
- Episode 373: The Future of Fitness + Healthcare: Coaches, Blood Work, and Client-Centered Models | Kevin Dineen · 1 h 8 min · Episode 374In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with coach Kevin Dineen to talk about where fitness and healthcare are headed and whether their merger is a net positive or…
- Episode 372: PCOS Made Practical, Body Recomp Basics, and the Wild West of Peptides (w/ Dr. Ashley Dwyer) · 1 h 1 min · Episode 52In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Ashley Dwyer, a PharmD-turned nutrition and fitness coach, to cover a wide range of topics, with a strong focus on…
- Episode 371: Peptides, TRT, GLPs & Bloodwork: How to Do It Safely (and What Most People Miss) with John Gorman · 1 h 8 min · Episode 373In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good friend John Gorman to unpack the current “wild west” of peptides, TRT, GLP medications, and performance-driven…
- Episode 370: Hybrid Training Done Right: Building Strength & Endurance Without Killing Your Gains with Andreas Stobberup · 1 h 38 min · Episode 372In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Denmark-based coach and hybrid athlete Andreas Stobberup to talk about bridging serious strength training with…
- Episode 369: Stop “Thinking Positive”: Nervous System, Pressure, and Performance with Vince Malts · 1 h 10 min · Episode 371In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good buddy Vince Maltz, a high-performance mindset coach who works with NHL players, Division I athletes, and elite…
- Episode 368: Why NEAT (Step Count) Might Be the Missing Key to Fat Loss, Recovery, and Performance & Flex Diet Cert Closes Tonight · 10 min · Episode 370In this solo episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I break down why NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), and a simple step count, is one of the most overlooked levers for…
- Episode 367: Rebroadcast: Creatine for Brain Health and Performance with Dr. Eric Rawson · 1 h 8 min · Episode 369Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! In this episode, I chat with Dr. Eric Rawson about the fascinating world of creatine, not just for muscle growth and performance, but also…
- Episode 366: Coaching Leverage for Optimal Fitness Results & Flex Diet Cert Now Open · 18 min · Episode 368Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! In this solo episode, I dive into the concept of coaching leverage, a key aspect of the Flex Diet Certification. Learn how to maximize…
- Episode 365: Carb Cycling for Performance and Body Comp with Jon Heck · 1 h 15 min · Episode 367In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with strength coach and educator Jon Heck to explore the intricacies of carb cycling. We discuss everything from Jon's…
- Episode 364: Does Cold Water Hurt Your Gains? The Science with Dr. Cas Fuchs · 1 h 16 min · Episode 365In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Cas Fuchs from Maastricht University to dive into the science behind cold water immersion. We discuss its impact on…
