D And D Fitness Radio's Show

In Episode 151, we talk with Geena Martinez about her foray into a golf influencer role, bringing very little previous experience to the table. A late adopter to the sport, Geena learned relatively quickly that golf was a valuable tool for cementing business relationships and broadening her corporate network. But she also grew to love everything about the sport to a point where she is now known as a golf ambassador and a positive role model for people who are encouraged to take up the sport later in life.When Geena isn’t golfing, she works as an executive sales business leader with over 15 years of experience driving a high sales performance from small-to-medium sized businesses to large national accounts. She excels in coaching, managing expectations, and presenting to internal and external audiences, helping clients and colleagues identify, understand, and resolve issues as well as build long term plans for success. You can find out more information on Geena Martinez below: Instagram:

Episode 150, we get the opportunity to interview Dr. Ricardo Komotar in between his numerous appointments. Ricardo tells us that he always wanted to be a brain surgeon from a very early age. The brain has always fascinated him. He explains that assessments and imaging can be useful in identifying potential problems in the brain, but too much screening can also be problematic. We also discuss various risk factors for tumor formation in the brain, with an emphasis on the role of nutrition, exercise and sleep for optimal brain function, health and longevity. The conversation also touches on the topics of traumatic brain injuries, dementia and new developments in the field of neurology. Dr. Komotar is Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in neuroscience from Duke University, spending a year at Oxford University in England to focus on neuropharmacology. He received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School

Episode 149, we get an opportunity to talk with Chris Duffin about his lifelong journey of improving the strength, performance and wellness of individuals and teams through his innovations in both equipment and programming. Chris begins our conversation with a discussion of his development as a human being from a very young age, and how it drove him to constantly improve physically, mentally and professionally. Our discussion quickly moves into his innovations in the strength equipment field, discussing the intricacies of his modifications to weightlifting bars to ensure that different populations were able to get the most out of their workouts despite having range-of-motion restrictions, muscle and joint injuries, and/or ergonomic challenges. The strides Chris has made with his equipment innovations are incredibly impressive. Chris Duffin is an inventor, thought leader, and serial entrepreneur in Health and Fitness. He has Co-Founded multiple prominent brands the largest of which, Kabuki Strength where he se

Frank Sepe joins us in Episode 148 to talk about his commitment to bodybuilding from a very young age, as well as the career development he has experienced for well over 30 years. Frank’s career has spanned several generations and he provides us with some great stories about the people he has worked with along the way. At age 51, Frank continues to lead by example in the art and science of bodybuilding, but also other areas of health and fitness through his social media, publishing and many other events. Frank Sepe is a nationally renowned Fitness celebrity & master trainer who is a leader and innovator in the fitness industry. Frank has been involved in every aspect of fitness and he has dedicated his life to creating programs that advise people on how to live a healthier lifestyle. His programs have been utilized by a countless amount of people around the world. He has created and sold his own line of fitness products globally on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). Frank is also the author of eight books a

Episode 147 of the podcast was recorded with a group of coaching professionals attending a coaching leadership event at Vigor Ground Fitness & Performance in Renton, Washington. The group included Luka Hocevar, Kelsey Heenan, Dennis Heenan, Andrew Coates and our very own Don Saladino. The focus of the discussion was on nurturing the business side of the fitness industry and connecting with potential followers and clients. Each contributor has their own individual method of connecting with their audience and offer his or her thoughts on the best ways to create engagement and long term relationships that move their business forward. Another commonality is the ability to reach out to others for help, particularly in areas where a known deficiency may exist. Identifying both the constraints and opportunities facing a business is an essential step for developing an overall strategic plan and following through on the implementation side. We hope this discussion helps to motivate and guide others to making enhan

In Episode 146, Don and Derek have a serious talk about how their training has evolved as they have aged, particularly as it relates to weightlifting and resistance training. Younger athletes and individuals are able to lift heavy weight more frequently for many reasons. Not only do they tend to have more time available to dedicate to exercise, they also have more supple and resilient bodies that can handle just about any training load and intensity. As you age, you find that you have to be more careful about both exercise selection, but also how much and how often you place a load on your body. While many of us have been brought up in a culture of lifting free weights with barbells and dumbbells, there are good reasons for shifting your exercise selection to alternative methods of training muscle and building hypertrophy. We discuss use of weight machines, banded exercises, plyometrics, throws and explosive running activities. Many of these alternative methods of training can provide the same benefits

In Episode 145, we are fortunate to be joined once again by John Callery, who has since retired from the DEA and is now working in the field of school safety. John is the Director of School Safety Operations for Surefox North America and will be presenting at an upcoming International School Safety Institute Symposium on April 19-20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In our interview with John, he discusses all of the major steps required to make our schools safer. This includes comprehensive education initiatives for all key stakeholders, site evaluations using Hazardous Vulnerability Assessments, and a review of digital leakages to ensure that all potential threats via social media platforms have been monitored to determine possible offenders. John maintains that school shootings are a problem that is not isolated to any one socio-economic group or geographic location and that everyone needs to take measures to prevent them from occurring. Mr. John W. Callery has over 35 years of law enforcement experience an

In Episode 144, Don and Derek begin their visit by discussing the recent medical incident that occurred in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills player, Damar Hamlin. Hamlin went into cardiac arrest immediately after making a tackle and had to be resuscitated by medical staff using CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Fortunately, Hamlin has made a fabulous recovery from the event and is gradually returning to normal life. However, it does lead into a greater discussion of the health and welfare of professional athletes, who are being paid to provide a service to an organization. Should the owners of professional sports teams monitor the activities of paid athletes on an ongoing basis to not only ensure that performance is maintained, but also the health and safety of athletes is maximized? If an owner is paying over $100 million for a player’s contract, does that give them a right to restrict harmful activities away from the training facility and competition arena, as well as promote positive choi

Episode 143 has us revisiting with Dr. Nikos Apostolopoulos on the topic of stretching and, in particular, his proprietary brand of microStretching. Stretching is an activity that has been misunderstood and, in many cases, improperly applied to physical training and rehabilitation. If performed properly, stretching can help to alleviate pain, improve range of motion and hasten recovery. Nikos takes us through all of the benefits of proper stretching, as well as outline some guidelines around how to stretch safely and efficiently. Dr. Nikos Apostolopoulos is the founder of the microStretching technique for physical therapy, injury management, performance training and athlete recovery. Nikos works around the world with athletes, coaches, rehabilitation professionals and general population clients via consultations, in person appointments and educational courses. His work in elite sports includes athletes from the NBA, NHL and MLS, as well as Olympic Track and Field athletes from various countries in North Ameri

In Episode 142, we engage Dr. Nick Nwabueze on the issue of healthcare and fitness. Dr. Nick provides us with his thoughts on the current state of healthcare and how he provides medical care to his patients. While many in the field treat symptoms in a reactive manner, Dr. Nick is adamant that a large proportion of these medical issues could be resolved with appropriate preventative measures related to diet and exercise. However, many doctors are not equipped to recommend nutrition and fitness protocols to their patients to avoid negative health outcomes. Dr. Nick has taken the necessary steps to ensure that all of his patients have the best combination of dietary, exercise and wellness prescriptions, combined with his medical expertise to set themselves up with best chance at healthy outcomes. Dr. Nick Nwabueze is a board-certified Family Medicine physician. He completed medical school at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and finished his internship and residency at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in

In Episode 141, we speak with one of Derek’s fellow Canadians, Andrew Coates. Andrew takes us through his career journey and highlights the importance of every single connection he has made over the years, expanding his network of both friends and fellow professionals. His enthusiasm for the fitness industry, as well as his persistent approach to establishing relationships is what has served him well over his career.Andrew Coates was born and raised in Newfoundland, but now makes Edmonton, Alberta his home. He grew up as a competitive cross-country skier, basketball player, and dabbled in many other sports, but became a die-hard fitness enthusiast in his early 20’s. Andrew Began his career as a certified personal trainer in the fall of 2010 in Edmonton, Alberta, and has accumulated over 19,000 plus client coaching hours, and continues to build on that total. Andrew is devoted to reading and studying everything he’s able to find time for, about fitness, nutrition, behaviour change, and anything related t

Episode 140 explores all that has happened in the five years that Don and Derek have spent together since that fateful meeting back in November 2017 at Drive495 on Broadway in New York City. We now have 140 podcast episodes under our belt and a lot has changed in those five years, including the way that we communicate and work with others, as well as how we promote our respective brands and provide services to our clients and our followers. If anything, the last five years has made us work harder at finding new ways be better at our craft, and search for good examples of who we can learn from to further develop our knowledge and skillsets. Time has flown by over the last five years, but we are always taking the time to acknowledge what we have learned, who has been an influence and where we need to improve moving forward.You can find out more information on Don Saladino’s online course via the following links:Website: https://donsaladino.samcart.com/products/5-steps-to-monetize-an-online-business/Instagra

In Episode 139, we have a fun but serious discussion about movement with movement coach, Kaisa Keranen. Kaisa is known for her dynamic demonstrations of complex movement and fitness exercises. However, we take a deeper dive with Kaisa and examine the key aspects of movement instruction that she is now focusing on with her clients, followers and general audience. While Kaisa has been associated with dynamic movement, she is now trying to get people to spend more time on quality movement that improves their daily health, wellness and fitness, as well as their overall quality of life.Kaisa Keranen is a personal trainer, fitness educator and social media influencer known for her fun and innovative ways to get people moving. She graduated from the University of Washington where she was a member of the Track and Field team and later went on to get her Masters in Exercise Science, Sports Performance and Injury Prevention. As owner of KaisaFit, she has developed her own method of movement which she shares daily wi

Episode 138, we explore Don’s new course, Five Steps to Monetize an Online Business, and find out his motivation for creating this educational journey for health and fitness professionals. He tells us about the series of events that led him to transition to online training delivery. Having a significant background in operating a brick and mortar business in a highly competitive market for 15 years, Don was able to draw on his previous experience in the fitness industry to come up with a streamlined approach to providing a combination of engaging content, programs, challenges and events using an online platform supported by social media. The course is designed to provide practical, actionable solutions for all kinds of professionals. Once you understand Don’s basic formula for pivoting to an online delivery system, it can expand your reach, influence, marketability and returns for your own business.You can find out more information on Don Saladino’s online course via the following links:Website: https://d

Episode 137, we speak with Canadian Coach and golf performance specialist, Jason Glass. Jason discusses the time, effort and experience that went into writing and publishing his new book, “Dream Big: Overdeliver Be Undeniable.” Jason starts be identifying the key development requirements for top young golfers, emphasizing rotational power and speed, as well as key tests used to identify athleticism in golf and other sports. He then tells us about his three year process of writing his book and covering all of the dreams and challenges he has embraced throughout his life. His mantra of “Dreaming Big” has helped to accomplish the life that he currently lives today.Jason Glass is one of the world’s top Rotational Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Jason owns and operates Kinetica Golf Performance in Vancouver BC; specializing in training rotary athletes, biomechanics, physical assessments and functional strength training. Jason is a consultant for many teams and professional athletes from the PGA Tour,

Episode 136 involves a deep dive into Don’s process of building community around his fitness challenges, online group calls and fitness retreats. The global pandemic initially created a lot of challenges for fitness professionals, with in-person gathering discouraged and online strategies in short supply. But over the past 30 months, much has changed and the majority of people have adapted. Don discusses how he has pivoted to create a dedicated online and in-person community that spans the globe. His fitness retreats have been tremendously successful and he provides us with a look inside of the planning process and how he has managed to pull off what some might consider a risky venture in light of the side effects of the pandemic. The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/Spreaker.com –

In Episode 135, we have an inspiring conversation with Tom Morris, a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Indiana University. Coach Morris tells us about this passion for his role as a strength coach, helping to develop athletes, motivate individuals and change attitudes on a daily basis. He also provides us with some insights into the challenges he has faced over his career, and how he has had to adapt to make the most out of both his life and his career. Tom also spends some of his time speaking to groups about facing life’s challenges and unexpected adversity, motivating them to meet things head on and with the same intensity and determination that elite athletes bring to training and competition. Coach Morris’ story is a compelling one and he does a fantastic job of bringing positivity wherever he goes.Thomas Morris serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance. Morris works with the men's soccer team. During his tenure, he has also served as strength and conditioning coach for

In Episode 134, we sit down with Merle Liivand to talk about her recent world record swimming 26.2 miles with a silicone mono-fin in the ocean just off the coast of Miami. An amazing feat covered in just over 11 hours, we discuss the physical demands of such a long swim, but also the psychological strength needed to swim through currents, jellyfish, pollution and other sea creatures. She accepted the challenge in an effort to continue to raise awareness about the importance of clean oceans, spreading the word with the help of the Guinness World Records organization. Finding out that Merle could not use her arms over the 11 hours swim was a shocking revelation. Her career as a competitive swimmer started as a child and she continued to swim longer and longer distances, progressing to open water challenges and even ice swimming.Merle Liivand is a national Estonian competitive swimmer, Model, aquapreneur, Swimera CEO, ambassador, Triathlete, International Spokesperson and open water swimmer from Tallinn, Est

In Episode 133, we have the pleasure of speaking with author and chef, Beth Lipton, about her recent book co-written with Ashleigh Vanhouten, Carnivore-ish. Beth tells us that it is okay to be a carnivore and explains all of the benefits of preparing and eating various types of animal protein in our diets that can be both healthy and enjoyable. There is no shortage of contradictory information being presented out there on topics such as health, fitness and nutrition. Understanding the basic science behind food composition and human nutrition, and combining that with creative recipes and food preparation guidelines will ensure that you can have great tasting food and optimal health.Beth is a cookbook author, recipe developer and food journalist with more than 15 years of writing and editing experience as well as extensive training as a natural-foods chef. She is a culinary nutritionist for Clean Eating magazine, and she writes and develops recipes for online and print publications such as FoodNetwork.com, W

Episode 132 explores the adoption of sprinting as a means of developing running abilities, as well as supplementing a comprehensive fitness program through the development of strength, power and elasticity. Most people associate a running-based fitness program with long distance running, where individuals are preparing for a marathon or a 10km race. While many people use long distance running as a primary means of exercise, others just can’t find pleasure or success with long runs and the fatigue associated with such an undertaking. Sprinting is a great alternative for people who want to incorporating running into their fitness program, without having to deal with the grind of the long run. And, sprinting offers other benefits including total body strength development, lean muscle gain and a general feeling of athleticism. Even though most people haven’t sprinted since grade school, it is a credible fitness strategy to build overall health, fitness and resiliency. You can find out more information on Der