Faster Fat Loss, Peak Performance, & Fitness at Any Age - With Brad Kearns

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Apr 14, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Brad Kearns, a New York Times bestselling author and elite athlete, shares insights on fitness and aging. He challenges misconceptions about exercise, emphasizing why walking is crucial for health and longevity. Brad highlights the importance of functional fitness and setting age-appropriate goals. He critiques popular high-intensity fitness trends and advocates for sustainable practices that protect us as we age. Listeners will discover the value of balancing various exercises, including sprinting, for enhanced vitality.

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INSIGHT

Bridging the Fitness Gap

People often associate exercise with their younger, fitter selves, leading to discouragement.
Reframing fitness goals and focusing on present capabilities can bridge the gap.

ADVICE

Effective and Sustainable Fitness

Prioritize walking and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) over steady-state cardio like jogging.
Qualify your body for specific activities through gradual training and recovery.

ANECDOTE

From Triathlete to Walking Advocate

Brad Kearns transitioned from extreme endurance as a triathlete to advocating for walking.
He emphasizes walking as a foundational aerobic activity for overall fitness and longevity.

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Although we are living in the most sedentary culture in the history of humankind, we know that movement is a foundational input that our bodies need for physical health, mental health, and so much more. Today, there are a wide variety of exercise modalities and classes that are available – but in this episode, you’re going to learn about what types of physical activity promote true health and longevity. Today’s guest, Brad Kearns, is a New York Times bestselling author, world-ranked professional triathlete, and elite masters track & field sprinter and high jumper. His new book, Born to Walk, coauthored by Mark Sisson, dives into the broken promises of the running boom and why walking is an essential genetic input for human health and longevity. In this interview, Brad is sharing his wealth of knowledge on fitness, including how to set age-appropriate goals, the importance of functional fitness, and what it takes to create a well-rounded fitness routine. You’re going to learn about the major problems with common exercise trends, what types of exercises can protect us as we age, and how to engage in sustainable, lifelong movement practices. Enjoy! In this episode you’ll discover:

A common misconception about aging.
Why our cultural programming around fitness is ineffective.
The problem with popular high-intensity fitness classes.
What the extreme exercise hypothesis is.
The three types of exercise we need to protect against falling as we age.
Why walking is a powerful foundational exercise.
How often we should engage in sprinting exercises.
Brad’s experiences with extreme endurance exercises.
The importance of attaching yourself to a larger mission.
What it means to be coached by your 80-year-old self.
Why your movement practices must be sustainable.
The #1 exercise for longevity.
Why we have to respect our chronological age.
The role of mobility exercises for longevity.
How your toes impact your walking gait.
The importance of spending time barefoot or in minimalist shoes.
What the health benefits of sprinting are.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Organifi.com/Model --Use the coupon code MODEL for 20% off + free shipping!
Peluva.com/model --Get 15% off barefoot shoes with my code MODEL!
Born to Walk by Mark Sisson and Brad Kearns -- Get your copy of the book today!
Peluva on YouTube -- Learn more about foot health & minimalist footwear!
Connect with Brad Kearns Website / Podcast / Instagram / YouTube

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This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Organifi and Peluva. Organifi makes nutrition easy and delicious for everyone. Take 20% off your order with the code MODEL at organifi.com/model. Peluva’s barefoot minimalist shoes support postural alignment, proprioception, and overall functionality. Get 15% off your order by using code MODEL at peluva.com/model.