Episodes
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Dr. Jason Wersland: The Origins and Impact of Theragun, The Importance of Recovery, Creating a Unique Brand & a Positive Community
In this episode of the Strong as F#CK Podcast, host Kenny Santucci welcomes Dr. Jason Werslans, the founder of Therabody, to discuss their incredible journey from the inception of the Theragun to its current status as a global brand.
Kenny and Dr. Jason delve into the personal sacrifices and passion behind building a successful business, the importance of fostering genuine connections at events like Strong New York, and the impact of Therabody's products on people's lives. Dr. Jason shares his experiences with the challenges and triumphs of staying true to his mission of improving lives through wellness innovations. Tune in for a profound conversation on entrepreneurship, resilience, and the science behind recovery and wellness.
Dr. Jason Wersland is the inventor of Theragun and Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Therabody. Actively involved in the company’s research and development process, Dr. Jason has been instrumental in driving the progression of Theragun through 6 generations and in developing the brand’s full ecosystem of award-winning products, content and services. Therabody finished 2023 having launched 10 new products and earning 34 awards including Fast Company 2023 World Changing Ideas, TIME 2023 Best Inventions, Popular Science Best of What's New Awards 2023, and more.
00:00 Introduction and Season Two Kickoff
00:51 Special Guest Introduction: Dr. Jason
01:53 Feedback on Strong New York Event
04:49 Theragun and Beyond: Dr. Jason's Journey
11:47 Building a Successful Brand
15:25 The Importance of Relaxation and Recovery
19:29 Creating a Community and Event Reflections
32:09 Genuine Passion and Generosity
32:44 Creating a Unique Brand Experience
34:10 Challenges of Scaling a Business
34:59 The Power of Personal Interaction
36:47 Early Days and Breakthrough Moments
40:53 Dealing with Copycats and Competition
43:03 Inspiring Passion in Employees
47:59 Balancing Family and Business
51:37 Emotional Resilience and Neutral Thinking
55:07 Exploring Psychedelics for Healing
01:02:09 The Importance of Research and Innovation
01:04:31 Conclusion and Future Outlook -
This week Kenny sits down with one of his youngest but probably brightest guests, Ben Yanes.
Ben is an expert in strength training and biomechanics. He quickly became well-known on social media for taking the intricacies of strength training and breaking down the science into digestible insights for the broader public.
In this episode, we cover his journey from failed athlete to one of the most knowledgeable trainers, how he simplifies biomechanics for a broader audience, the importance of learning to experiment on your own and what he believes to be the primary drivers for muscle growth and hypertrophy.
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On this week's episode, Kenny is talking diet and nutrition with a leading expert in the space, Rachel Scheer.
Rachel is a certified functional medicine nutritionist who helps her clients improve gut health to optimize their body and hormones.Kenny and Rachel discuss how her background in bodybuilding and athletic performance paved the way to her career in functional wellness coaching, the critical role of nutrition and gut health in overall well-being, and the challenges of fad diets and misinformation in the industry.
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On this episode of the Strong As F#ck Podcast, we're excited to welcome Manny Lubin - CoFounder of Slate Milk.
Manny Lubin co-founded Slate with the goal of creating a healthy chocolate milk you could drink every day. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank, and hundreds of iterations of testing, Slate launched in late 2019 with three delicious chocolate milk flavors. Today, Slate has expanded into new flavors and additional product lines, all of which contain 20g protein, have 0g added sugar, are lactose free, and 100% plastic neutral. In this episode, we will hear Manny's story and what it takes to go from concept to a sponsor of the UFC.
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This week, Kenny's doctor is in the house. Dr. K is a specialist in preventative medicine and a true expert in her field. She's not only a board-certified physician but also a dynamic advocate for integrating exercise and healthy living into medical practice.
Tune in to this week's episode as Kenny & Dr.K talk about the transformative power of understanding your full body heath, the latest in preventive medicine and the vital role of exercise in achieving peak health.
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This week Kenny's guest is serial entrepreneur, Eddie Hertzman. Eddie is currently the founder and CEO of Athletech News, a media outlet providing comprehensive coverage of the most impactful news and trends shaping the fitness and wellness sector. Prior to this venture, he launched multiple businesses across several industry verticals including media, fitness, wellness and sourcing. He is a sought-after speaker, sharing his expertise at leading industry conferences and events.
On this episode, Eddie & Kenny dive into what it takes to be successful- something everyone wants but not something everyone is willing to put the work in to make happen.
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Kenny's next guest is his friend, client and fellow fitness professional, Katia Pryce. After dancing professionally for years, Katia combined her passion for dance and fitness into a career when she founded DanceBody in 2013. The boutique fitness brand started out as private sessions and quickly turned into sold-out classes across four studio locations and a virtual platform.
In this episode, Katia shares her transformational journey from the mid-west to the Big Apple to pursue her dreams. She and Kenny talk about what it takes to build a brand from the ground up especially in the competitive NYC fitness landscape.
From navigating hurdles to establishing a cult-like following, Katia is proof that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
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This week Kenny is joined by his long time buddy John McEntee. They discuss John's journey from the former Director of White House Presidential Personnel Office to becoming the CEO of a dating app and a social media sensation.
Whether you're curious about life behind the scenes in politics or interested in the dynamics of tech startup leadership, tune in to gain insights and inspiration from John's unique story of transformation and success.
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Kenny Santucci sits down with your favorite influencer's least favorite influencer - John Dorsey, better known as the Goob.
Kenny and John dive into the world of authenticity, bodybuilding, and how he became an internet sensation championing rawness and transparency in the fitness world. In an age where digital manipulations often distort, The Goob serves as a poignant reminder that not everything we see online reflects reality.
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Kenny's next guest is long time friend, Mike Puma - owner of The Gotham Burger Social Club. They dive into burgers, business and what it takes to bet on yourself.
The Gotham Burger Social Club gained widespread popularity through its pop-up's during the pandemic. What started out for Mike Puma as a hobby, reviewing and making burgers, has turned into the most successful and popular pop-up NYC had ever seen! After 3 years of serving a community, helping bars and restaurants, and leading the smashburger craze, the Gotham Burger Social Club has a permanent home at 131 Essex Street.
Don't forget !!! Strong New York, NYC's ONLY fitness & expo is happening on Saturday, October 5 at The Glasshouse. For more details and tickets, visit www.strongnewyork.com
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Kenny's first guests are the dynamic duo behind Tonehouse- founder and director of training, Alonzo Wilson and his righthand man and head coach, James McMillian. They sit down with Kenny to talk about the importance of building a community, lifting each other and the people around them up and their upcoming Turf Wars event.
Tone House is the premier Strength & Conditioning athletic training facility in NYC. Sessions are team-oriented, competitive, fun, and supportive, guaranteeing optimal fitness results. Whether you’re an elite athlete, or just want to train like one, Tone House’s goal is to bring sports conditioning workouts to the mainstream.
Don't forget !!! Strong New York, NYC's ONLY fitness & expo is happening on Saturday, October 5 at The Glasshouse. For more details and tickets, visit www.strongnewyork.com
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