Shows
The Strength ConnectionPrimal Foundations w/ Tony PascollaWelcome to the Strength Connection.Tony Pascolla is a Physical Education teacher (Chicago,IL), strength coach, StrongFirst Kettlebell & Barbell Instructor, personal trainer, and carnivore/fasting coach.He is also the host of the Primal Foundations Podcast, where he explores topics related to strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle optimization (which I’ve had the privilege of being a guest on.)In this episode, Tony dives into early days of endurance training, what wrestling taught him about mindset for co...2025-07-1955 min
Primal Foundations PodcastEpisode 55: Beyond the Prescription - The Carnivore Diet with Ankur VermaSend us a textDr. Ankur Verma, an emergency medicine specialist from New Delhi and host of The DESI EM Project podcast, shares his compelling journey from a carb-heavy Indian diet to embracing a carnivore lifestyle after facing severe metabolic health issues. By adopting a meat-based diet, he reversed his own metabolic syndrome and witnessed remarkable health improvements in others, including his uncle's reversal of 25 years of diabetes. Dr. Verma challenges conventional nutritional wisdom by emphasizing the importance of biomarkers like triglyceride-to-HDL ratio and homocysteine levels over traditional cholesterol metrics. Through his podcast, he delves into topics...2025-06-0158 min
Primal Foundations PodcastEpisode 54: No Gimmicks, Just Gains with Jim Wendler 5/3/1Send us a textThe search for the perfect strength training program often leads to over-complication, but Jim Wendler—creator of the iconic 5-3-1 program and former elite powerlifter who once squatted 1,000 pounds—makes a compelling case for simplicity. In this episode, Wendler shares how his lifelong commitment to consistent, basic training transformed him from an average athlete into a multi-sport standout and shaped his no-nonsense coaching philosophy. We dive into his current work revamping a small-town high school football program, where his simple, repeatable training approach has turned a struggling team into playoff regulars and stat...2025-05-231h 13
Primal Foundations PodcastEpisode 53: Strength as a Skill with Michael KurkowskiSend us a textWhat if the key to lasting fitness success isn’t found in the latest workout trend, but in understanding your identity? In this episode, Michael Kurkowski—strength coach with 15 years of experience and host of The Strength Connection podcast—shares powerful insights into the psychology behind sustainable progress. After a hip injury as a teenager led him down a path of rehabilitation and movement quality, Michael discovered the transformative power of proper assessment and mindset work. He explains how the pandemic revealed a widespread struggle with autonomy in training and how true change stems...2025-05-1249 min
Primal Foundations PodcastBonus Episode: The Next Four Years: Compete, Win & Thrive in College Sports w/ Angelo GingerelliSend us a textAngelo Gingerelli brings 20 years of collegiate strength coaching wisdom to our first-ever guest episode, offering hard-earned lessons from his time at Seton Hall and beyond. He challenges the constant job-hopping in the industry, emphasizing the value of building roots, relationships, and revenue streams. We dive into early sport specialization, with Angelo dropping gems like, "Everybody wants to sell a single-arm dumbbell bench press on a physio ball to people who can't do push-ups yet." He shares how strength programs should be structured, the role of tech in training, and advice from his book...2025-04-1659 min
Primal Foundations PodcastEpisode 52: Carnivore Transformation with Melissa BeeSend us a textWhat happens when your body finally gets exactly what it needs? Melissa Bee’s journey from corporate burnout to vibrant health reveals the transformative power of the carnivore lifestyle. After developing debilitating tinnitus in 2010 and receiving a bleak medical outlook, Melissa refused to settle for a lifetime of medications. Her healing journey took a pivotal turn while prepping for a bikini bodybuilding competition, where a temporary shift in nutrition unlocked life-changing benefits that extended far beyond aesthetics. Now in her 40s, Melissa feels more energized and clear-headed than she did in her twenties, an...2025-04-1437 min
Primal Foundations PodcastEpisode 51: Toxic Superfoods with Sally K Norton, MPHSend us a textSally K. Norton shares her powerful journey from health-conscious eater to chronically ill patient, and the surprising discovery that changed everything. After decades of unexplained pain, surgeries, and symptoms that baffled doctors, Sally found that the real culprit was oxalates—compounds found in popular “superfoods” like spinach, almonds, and sweet potatoes. These molecules can crystallize in the body, causing inflammation and tissue damage. Ironically, those most committed to eating clean may suffer the most. Sally breaks down how oxalates build up over time, why they affect people differently, and why standard blood tests usuall...2025-03-291h 02
Primal Foundations PodcastBonus Episode: #5 The Art of Coaching: From Niches to MindsetsSend us a textThree veteran strength coaches—Nathan Bañuelos, Nikki Georgeson, and Tony Pascolla.—pull back the curtain on the realities of the personal training industry, bringing decades of combined experience to a candid discussion about coaching practices, business development, and the future of the profession. We explore how the pandemic reshaped client expectations, debating whether virtual training is here to stay or if in-person coaching is making a comeback. For aspiring trainers, their advice is brutally honest: expect little return in the first few years, as the path to success demands long hours...2025-03-211h 05