Ever Forward Radio with Chase Chewning

The fitness world was dramatically shaken up during the past year-and-a-half—and with it our own goals. With gyms and other fitness establishments finally opening up, how do we get back on track and move forward in an industry that has transformed in so many ways? Krysta is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who is the founder of The Fitness FYX brand and the FYX Studio platform. She is the host of THE FYX podcast, a show which covers "all things fitness, nutrition, love, loss, personal and professional relationships, entrepreneurship, being a damn millennial, and embracing that stereotype." Listen in as Krysta gives us her thoughts on getting unstuck and taking proactive steps toward your health and fitness goals in the new normal. She explains the double-edged sword that is the ease of becoming certified as a coach nowadays. She says that this means personal accountability has become one of the biggest keys to breaking through the noise as a trainer—especially boutique ones like herself. Krysta says that trainers now have the responsibility to perform a self-audit to ensure continuous improvement in their specialties. For both trainers and trainees, she reminds us that more training doesn't necessarily equal better training and to not become distracted by the increasing complexity and the bells and whistles of the modern fitness industry. Follow Krysta @thekrystahuber Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 15% on the delicious and protein packed 100% beef sticks with code EVERFORWARD at https://paleovalley.com/store/beef-sticks Learn more about Krysta and get complete show notes at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/506

One of the great attributes of masculine energy is that it pushes us forward—it drives us to advance in a positive direction. But without self-esteem backing up that masculine energy, we may still be able to move forward, but in a negative direction. In today's episode, Angelo Sisco of Alpha Hippie talks all things manhood and the oftentimes elusive road to unlocking the professional man within you. So many of us are obsessed with blazing a trail that, when we look back, we realize we've forgotten our heart. On the other hand, there are those of us who live in our hearts and their thoughts without ever taking action. Listen in as Angelo explains why the first step to embracing your masculinity is actually in nurturing your feminine energy (or what he calls "grace"). He tells us that the lack of understanding and, by extension, the inadequate integration of one's masculine and feminine energies is the cause for many of the issues we face in the world today. Follow Angelo @angelo_cisco Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 15% on the premium CBD products from Cured Nutrition with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.curednutrition.com Save 20% on The Good multi-function serum by Caldera Lab with code EVERFORWARD at https://calderalab.com/everforward Learn more about Angelo and get complete show notes at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/505

"You can transition from just being aware of your chaotic and toxic thoughts to being empowered to catch these thoughts in their early stages, manage them. From there, you can improve your overall peace and wellbeing." Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist who for almost 40 years has been doing research into the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. Dr. Leaf is the host of the podcast Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and the author of the book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking. We talk in-depth about the book in today's conversation. Her overall message? You are not your brain. Your mind, in fact, controls your neurophysiology. When you understand your mind, you can begin to drive change in your brain and in your body. It's all under your control. She says that, contrary to popular belief, emotional and even physiological symptoms that result from stress are not the result of an irreversibly "broken" brain. Rather, it's a question of your paradigms or the narrative lens that you see the world through. "Because our brain is neuroplastic and we make a million new cells every second, we have a lot of power to influence and change" the stories we tell ourselves. Listen in and learn how you can become empowered to manage your "messy mind" so that you can then give the podium to the "wise mind". Follow Caroline @drcarolineleaf Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 20% on Pure and Gold by Organifi with code EVERFORWARD at http://organifi.com/everforward Get Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3BENRrc Join the Ever Forward Book Club at http://bit.ly/efbookclub Get your free 30-day audio book trial with Audible at http://audibletrial.com/everforward Learn more about Dr. Leaf and get complete show notes at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/504

Being grateful for the cards you were dealt from birth—whether you label them as "good" or "bad"—is the key to thriving in life despite the challenges (whether physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.) unique to you. That gratitude allows you to contribute some good to the world because you're pouring from an overflowing reservoir. But if your perspective is that of lack and resentfulness, your reservoir is depleted; and then your chances of contributing any good to the world are nil. Today's guest, Courtney Turner, believes that everyone has the ability to shape their destiny, and it starts with discovering that potential in you. "A lot of the time," says Courtenay, "when people are filled with despair or depression or anxiety, it's a lack of hope. And lack of hope stems from feeling like you have no control over your future. But the truth is, we don't know what the future holds." By remembering the things that we have overcome or succeeded at in the past, we can pinpoint our strengths, be grateful for them, and then use those gifts to chart a brighter path going forward. Courtenay Turner is the Founder of WIM: What is Movement!, the Co-Founder of Truthmatters.biz, and the host of The Courtenay Turner Podcast. Follow Courtenay @kineticcourtz Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 15% on Strong Coffee Company with code CHASE at https://strongcoffeecompany.com/?ref=idvqn2vvx5y Learn more about Courtenay at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/503

With a childhood defined by an almost endless barrage of abuse from the people closest to him, and an early adulthood filled with all manner of destructive coping mechanisms in response to those tragic early years, Khalil Rafati had a long road ahead of him to rewire his mind and direct his energy toward the good. From a life of family trauma, homelessness, substance abuse, and at one point being a convicted felon, Khalil has completely transformed his life. Today, Khalil is still addicted—only he has switched out the drugs and alcohol for superfoods and juices. His passion for health led him to found SunLife Organics, a rapidly growing chain of health food cafés with locations in California, Texas, and Arizona. He shares his unique approach to service, which includes allowing his staff to offer items on the house if the customer has recently fallen on hard times. "A lot of people come into SunLife not just for the human connection," says Khalil. "A lot of people come into SunLife as a lighthouse in the storm." Beyond the smoothies, Khalil believes that SunLife's customers come in to be loved, and his ultimate job is to shower them with the love, healing, and inspiration they crave. Follow Khalil @khalilrafati Follow SunLife Organics @sunlifeorganics Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 20% with code EVERFORWARD on Organifi at http://organifi.com/everforward Get his book I Forgot to Die https://amzn.to/2UzcXHq Get his book Remembering to Live https://amzn.to/3znOjbG Learn more about Khalil and SunLife Organics at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/502

"Let's put less emphasis on losing 10, 20, 30 pounds and more on what hot, healthy, and confident mean to you." This is the motto that Lauren Hubert decided to embody as 2021 rolled out. But getting to the point where she could proclaim and live out this mindset for herself was a journey plagued with doubt and insecurity. After gaining nearly 20 pounds as a freshman at Florida State University, Lauren was determined to shed the weight and regain her self-confidence. Unfortunately, she ended up going down a destructive path defined by hours of running, an extreme calorie deficit, and closing herself off from all social events for fear of getting tempted to eat the "wrong" foods. It took a couple of years studying to become a registered dietician before Lauren realized just how toxic her mindset toward health and wellness was up till then. In 2019, with a renewed purpose, Lauren established The Sorority Nutritionist. Listen in as Lauren touches on the value of patience and setting expectations as we create our fitness goals; how to manage failure, avoid burnout, and maintain our positivity as we strive for these goals; not letting yourself be defined by your failures and weaknesses; and how to overcome the two biggest struggles with health and wellness that most people go through today. Follow Lauren @sorority.nutritionist Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 15% on the grass fed beef sticks from Paleovalley with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.paleovalley.com/everforward Learn more at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/501

Statistics show that the majority of Americans are now obese, in spite of the fact the fitness industry is bigger today than at any other point in time. Sal Di Stefano of Mind Pump Media dives deep into this alarming disconnect and goes through the laundry list of issues that emerge as a result of poor health both on an individual level and on a society level. In 2021, Sal published the book The Resistance Training Revolution, which details his observations and lessons learned after over 20 years in the fitness world. Frustrated at how the industry has failed to adequately address an obesity crisis that only continues to get worse, Sal wrote the book to tackle some of the common myths and misconceptions around health and fitness. In particular, he hopes to change the mainstream paradigm regarding resistance training, which he believes is "the best form of exercise to burn fat, boost metabolism, and achieve health benefits you cannot obtain from other forms of exercise." "I made the book to specifically focus on trying to get people to adopt a form of exercise that has now been proven through study, but also one that I've seen through experience to be the most effective form of exercise for all of the health problems that we tend to run into in modern society—everything from obesity to diabetes to dementia to Alzheimer's to loss of mobility to hormone issues. I'm trying to change the stigma that surrounds this form of exercise." Sal goes on to explain why cardio and tracking calories burned during exercise are two of the worst things to focus on when trying to lose weight. He then gives his thoughts on the dangers of the "self love" trend and why you should never conflate "self image" with "body image". Follow Sal @mindpumpsal Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 20% on your first purchase from Legion Athletics with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.buylegion.com For complete show notes and to learn more about Sal visit https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/500

Chase and May are joined today by Kara and Caleb Campbell. Kara is a celebrity event planner and human connection facilitator, and Caleb is a West Point graduate, former US Army officer, former NFL player, and former US Olympic bobsled athlete. Today, Chase, May, Kara, and Caleb talk all things relationships and the importance and necessity of continuous growth and maintaining a space for you to thrive in. They speak on how this all allows for the introduction of deep, meaningful relationships into your life as well as the strengthening of the relationships you already have. They also dive deep into emotional honesty as being fundamental to progression (or regression, if you lack it). Emotional honesty, they say, serves as a guide that allows you to filter the friendships and other relationships that serve you from those that don't. That honesty also helps you accept the ease of falling in love and finding your person. Finally, they reflect on why your perspective of events, particularly challenging ones, is the key factor to your getting through them while taking away valuable lessons for growth. From the divine ambush, discover how you can turn the holy frustration which follows into radical acceptance and, at last, go from there into sacred flow. Follow Kara @bykaraelise Follow Caleb @caleb_campbell Follow May @mayyazdi Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 15% on organic instant coffee from Strong Coffee Company with code CHASE at https://strongcoffeecompany.com/?ref=idvqn2vvx5y Save 15% on the 100% grass fed beef sticks from Paleovalley with code EVERFORWARD at https://paleovalley.com/store/beef-sticks For complete show notes visit https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/499

Wendy McCallum is a burnout and balance coach, author, and speaker. In this conversation, she recounts her own struggles dealing with a high-stress lifestyle in the past, as well as the common signs and symptoms of burnout. She offers practical tools that anyone can use to both recover from burnout and prevent it from happening again in the future. She talks about unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol, food, and social media and how we can learn to rely less on these crutches and become more present. Wendy also gives her thoughts on the unique challenges that many of us experienced in 2020 and continue to face in 2021. One of her observations at the tail-end of the pandemic has been the emergence of a "third shift" in the lives of working professionals. If our "first shift" represents our actual career and our "second shift" refers to the people under our care—whether our children or aging parents—our new "third shift" is helping to orchestrate or manage schooling from home. This, of course, is on top of the overall anxiety all of us have felt in the past year-and-a-half. The pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have led to a significantly higher stress load on the average human being. Burnout is one of the symptoms of this stress. Whether one came into 2020 physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy, or already overworked, almost everybody has had to deal with exhaustion. (On the other hand, a very small minority—mainly business owners and employers—have found opportunities to become flexible and even more productive in their work.) Wendy reflects on her own experience with burnout and how she learned to create a life that she no longer needed to escape from. Follow Wendy @wendymccallumcoach Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 15% on instant organic coffee from Strong Coffee Company with code CHASE at https://strongcoffeecompany.com/?ref=idvqn2vvx5y Save 15% on the cinnamon and honey CBD sticks from Cured Nutrition with code EVERFORWARD at https://bit.ly/3pJAMWr For complete show notes and to learn more about Wendy visit https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/498

Hailing from the small town of North Pole, Alaska, young Heidi Somers never saw herself as the face of a fitness brand with over 1.7 million followers on Instagram and 765,000 subscribers on YouTube. At the age of 20, the self-proclaimed introvert was working four jobs and left for San Antonio the following year to pursue medical school. It was in university when she began sharing her passion for health and fitness on social media, just for fun. Before she knew it, she'd grown a sizable audience and had company after company at her doorstep. Eventually, Heidi made the big decision to quit school and go all-in on her new business, Buffbunny Collection, which designs and creates luxurious fitness apparel made for every body. The brand showcases and celebrates women of all different body shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Listen in as Heidi shares her story from shy, small-town girl to entrepreneur and influencer. She also describes her unique relationship with Christian Guzman, who happens to run a well-known fitness brand of his own. Finally, Heidi explains how she stays creative and continues to gain inspiration in an increasingly saturated market. Follow Heidi @buffbunny Follow Chase @chase_chewning Episode resources: Save 15% on Paleovalley's 100% grass fed beef sticks with code EVERFORWARD at https://paleovalley.com/store/beef-sticks Get your free variety sample pack of LMNT Recharge electrolyte drink mix at http://drinklmnt.com/everforward Watch the complete video and learn more at https://chasechewning.com/podcasts/episode/497