Iron Sights

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sat down with the founder of Train with Purpose, my good friend JP. If you’ve ever felt uneducated, unhealthy or overweight you can understand how hard it can be to find a purpose big enough to transform your situation and take the necessary action towards improving everything that you dislike about yourself. JP was all three: a high school dropout who turned to alcohol and at one point weighed over 300lbs. We discuss the ups and downs of JP’s journey and the breaking point that made him realize his greatness. This episode covers the pros and cons of CrossFit and how health & fitness causes people to check their ego at the door and find the motivation to become better. JP has rapidly grown a following on social media through launching his personal brand @trainwithpurposeofficial where he documents the lifestyle Iron Sights promotes wholeheartedly. The second half of this conversation dives deep into the 2A community and gun rights. How can we create a conversation surrounding firearms that bring people together and create a country where everyone can feel protected, heard, understood and prepared for a future worth fighting for? I hope you enjoy JP! He’s already scheduled to come back next week. Timestamps:00:00 Welcoming JP To Iron Sights00:30 The Best Part of The Fitness Industry05:28 Dropping Out of High School To Play Halo13:32 Quitting Alcohol and Getting Sober20:21 The History, G.O.A.T.S, and Evolution of CrossFit29:51 Scott Howell’s Fitness Origin Story35:44 How JP Went From 300lbs To In Shape & Healthy41:47 The Boomerang of Helicopter Parenting44:36 What’s Made JP A Great Coach47:13 What CrossFit Teaches You49:18 Launching The Train with Purpose Brand54:27 This is America: Why JP Bought A Gun1:02:11 Breaking Down The 2021 San Jose Riots1:10:10 Don’t Train Just To Look Good - Do This Instead1:15:14 The Conversation about Firearms You Need To Hear1:37:38 The Firearm Community Is Losing Their Voice1:45:15 Multi-Training for Triathlon1:46:39 How The Name “Red Dot Fitness” Was Created2:02:34 Episode Closing Summary

Welcome back to the Iron Sights Podcast! In this episode of Iron Sights, we are kicking off a new series: After Dark. Jordan and Callaway Cook stopped by the studio to talk shop and catch up. Jordan Cook is the founder of Paragon Body, a rising health & wellness brand delivering corporate wellness solutions to individuals and companies worldwide. Since the founding of Paragon Body, their holistic structure for corporate wellness has been used by some of the largest global brands. To learn more about Paragon Body you can visit their website at https://www.paragonbody.com/ This is the story of how two brothers from rural Georgia made their way to establishing one of my favorite brands in silicon valley. Get ready for a new format, because we’re removing the corporate veil, drinking some booze and diving deep into what it takes to start a business and go from zero to hero in the San Francisco Bay Area.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome To Iron Sights After Dark02:50 Getting to Know The Brothers Over Shots of Tequila08:43 Hunting Racoons and Getting Pulled Over By The Cops14:22 Small Town Stories: Getting Arresting In Rural Georgia17:38 The Pros and Cons of Drinking As a Minor19:47 Moving To California From Georgia As A Personal Trainer29:12 How Callaway Started In The Fitness Business30:34 How Tough Is It To Be A Teenage Boy32:21 Working For LA Fitness and City Sports 38:26 The Life of A Trainer40:53 Going Into Business As Brothers & Personal Trainers46:51 The Standard of Red Dot Fitness51:57 Outreach As A Small Business Gym Owner In San Mateo County1:01:11 Accomplishing Business and Fitness Milestones in 20221:06:53 Virtually Scaling A Business1:09:46 Calloway’s Self-Improvement1:10:58 The Bachelors of San Jose While Balancing Work1:15:21 My Goals For 2022 Including Family and Lifestyle1:17:23 Jordan’s 2022 Goals and What Makes People Happy1:23:25 Closing Statements

Ep 28: After 18 years in the space, Donnie Oliver is an experienced leader, consultant and operator with a demonstrated successful track record working in the health wellness and fitness industry. He’s obtained elite level skill in a broad range of topics including Leadership, Sales Training and Development, CRM, and Retail to Corrective and Performance Exercise Specialties. He’s a uniquely strong sales professional with a B.A. focused in Communications from Penn State University. Donnie is currently the VP of Global Franchise Operations for UFC GYMS, a brand quickly on the path to have well over 1000 locations across 39+ countries. In this episode we reconnect on previous experiences including the good, the bad, and the ugly, that paved the way to success. We dig into the past, present, and future of the fitness industry and what it will take to be a successful gym owner or operator in the short and long term. There’s valuable insight into the impacts of culture on our health, how to become a better leader, and why the fitness industry is their own worst enemy. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 27: With over 2 decades as a fitness club operator and health & wellness educator, Steve Stonehouse has contributed as a leader to some of the most iconic brands in the industry. His career started as a fitness coach and he worked his way up from the gym floor at 24 Hour Fitness, became a multi-unit manager, and was the VP of Fitness of one of the world biggest brands, UFC. Steve is currently the Director of Education at STRIDE - Xponential Fitness brand and national franchise of premium treadmill studios that cater to clients of all ages and fitness levels. His experience across multiple consumer markets and market segments makes him an expert in the field of fitness, club operations, and organizational leadership. In this episode Steve candidly talks about his career path, the ups and downs, the leadership lessons learned, and provides insight on the future of the industry and the current landscape of fitness. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 26: Dr. Justin Brink was motivated by the self-healing power of the human body after suffering a severe strain in his lower back while playing water polo. Chiropractic became the path Dr. Brink wanted to pursue and went on to complete his doctorate at Palmer College of Chiropractic West. He’s been involved with Rocktape™ since its inception in 2009, as co-author of “Power Taping: Taping Movements, Not Muscles,” and as a Certified Instructor, teaching the theory and application of Rocktape™ to numerous Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists nationwide. Dr. Brink’s extensive training and his effective use of multiple therapies have attracted the following of many professional athletes, including triathletes and UFC and Strikeforce MMA fighters, boxers, and soccer players. In this episode Brink describes why he’s not your typical chiropractor and the truth about templated health care. He candidly talks about the truths and myths associated with the education system and how to navigate through it as an aspiring professional. We discuss being a private practitioner and business owner in today's unhealthy culture and how to be successful. And, Brink provides insight to why and how education will be the future of how we get healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 25: Chris Cheng is a media personality, strategic consultant, and civil rights advocate in the firearms community. He worked for Google from 2007-2012 in many capacities. In 2011, Cheng decided to try something wacky and audition for History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 shooting competition, having not one shooting award to his name, nor any formal shooting instruction. Cheng is History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 Champion -- he beat 17 professional marksmen and won a $100,000 cash prize, the title of "Top Shot," and a pro marksman contract with Bass Pro Shops. He left Google in June 2012 to pursue a career in the outdoor industry full time. He works closely with the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation on the Outreach Advisory Council, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association on promoting the shooting sports and protecting our Second Amendment rights. He recently created some controversy as the cover model of Recoil Magazine and used the artwork to enter into the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). In this 2 part episode Chris articulates his life and professional experience as gay Asian-American within the firearms community. He walks through his testimony in front of the U.S. Senate and his crusade to evolve the conversation around 2nd amendment rights and his frustration with the disproportionate amount of conversation between mass shootings as opposed to suicide and mental health. He hopes to bring awareness to both gun owners and non gun owners about how to have a different conversation and build community through the technology of NFTs. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 24: Chris Cheng is a media personality, strategic consultant, and civil rights advocate in the firearms community. He worked for Google from 2007-2012 in many capacities. In 2011, Cheng decided to try something wacky and audition for History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 shooting competition, having not one shooting award to his name, nor any formal shooting instruction. Cheng is History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 Champion -- he beat 17 professional marksmen and won a $100,000 cash prize, the title of "Top Shot," and a pro marksman contract with Bass Pro Shops. He left Google in June 2012 to pursue a career in the outdoor industry full time. He works closely with the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation on the Outreach Advisory Council, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association on promoting the shooting sports and protecting our Second Amendment rights. He recently created some controversy as the cover model of Recoil Magazine and used the artwork to enter into the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). In this 2 part episode Chris articulates his life and professional experience as gay Asian-American within the firearms community. He walks through his testimony in front of the U.S. Senate and his crusade to evolve the conversation around 2nd amendment rights and his frustration with the disproportionate amount of conversation between mass shootings as opposed to suicide and mental health. He hopes to bring awareness to both gun owners and non gun owners about how to have a different conversation and build community through the technology of NFTs. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 23: Adam Saucedo, M.A. is a Mindset Coach who helps clients enhance their mind-body connection to achieve optimal performance results. He empowers his clients by coaching them on how to best develop and personalize the mental skills and lifestyle habits necessary to achieve balance and consistency. In this episode Adam provides actionable tips on how to recalibrate your mindset and the mindset of the leaders in your life, business, and on your team. He talks about the importance of reestablishing control and the consequences of not handling the very real things that prevent us from reaching our ultimate potential. Adam defines what means to synchronize your intent while creating a universal language with those around you. This episode is rich with tools and practices for improving performance as an athlete, leader, parent, partner, business owner, and beyond. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 22: Mike Salemi is a world class performance and health coach who provides opportunities for men to improve on the physical, mental, and emotional components of building a strong foundation for standing your ground as a man. In this episode Mike & Scott unpack their recent trip to southern Texas and the Sacred Hunting experience and why they hunt. Both Mike & Scott describe their very personal and shared experience of what the trip unexpectedly provided and taught them. They discuss sharing both clear and meaningful intentions and the impact it has on outcomes, especially the unexpected ones. Mike talks about the value of solitude as it relates to making a connection to self and to others, entering into a “container of safety” where the men can be and feel judgment free, and the opportunity to both create for self-discovery and personal growth. Mike and Scott detail the reality of preparing for and getting the perfect shot and the parallels between hunting and life. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 21: Aaron Hinde is the Co-Founder & President of LIFEAID Beverage Company where he has re-imagined the drink choices of those pursuing an active and healthy lifestyle. Previously immersed in the health field as a Doctor of Chiropractic, he noticed a genuine need in the marketplace for clean and effective sports drinks without the sugar and artificial flavoring. In 2011, Aaron co-founded LIFEAID to provide individuals with specially formulated, low-sugar, high-value natural supplement beverages. In the high-failure world of CPG inundated with huge manufacturers and immense competition, LIFEAID is now on a trajectory to reach $100 million in revenue and is all gas, no brakes. His path to success has been a story of “the road less traveled”. From the party scene to the CrossFit scene, Aaron makes no bones about how passion, work ethic, luck, pushing all the chips onto the table, and personal tragedy have equated to his ultimate success. In this episode he lays it all out there and leaves listeners with the truth about hustle and a personal challenge on how to improve their personal situation and experiences starting now. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!