Podcast
Help Me Understand
Hosted by JK McLeod · EN
Help Me Understand is a podcast that explores the context behind the things that we experience from day to day.
With topics ranging from personal development, to parenting, to health and fitness, and more; join JK McLeod as he shares his thoughts and hosts conversations that are meant to encourage you to say "Help me understand" in an effort to add perspective to the things we experience in everyday life.
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Make Fitness Make Sense, Episode 2: The Cortisol Panic Is Getting Out of Hand
6d ago00:44:03Tap to summarizeCortisol gets blamed for everything right now: belly fat, poor sleep, stress, fatigue, hormone issues, and even people’s workouts.But is cortisol really the villain, or has the internet turned a normal human hormone into another thing to fear?In this episode, Coach JK shares his perspective on the cortisol conversation in a way that is less panic-driven and more practical. He looks at what cortisol is, when it is actually useful, where the fear-mongering goes too far, and why a 30-second social media checklist should not be treated like a diagnosis.This episode is for anyone who has heard about “cortisol belly,” wondered if their workouts are stressing their body too much, or felt like every symptom online somehow gets turned into a hormone problem.Referenced in today's episode:HMU Ep. 227: Let's talk about bloating and inflammation-------Connect with JK:Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.com
Transcribe →300. Virtue signaling, Juneteenth, the cost of convenience
1w ago00:24:55Tap to summarizeJK discusses the significance of Juneteenth, his perspective on virtue signaling, and an observation on the cost of convenience.-------Connect with JK:Instagram: @coachjkmcleodEmail: JK@JKMcLeod.comNew episodes of Make Fitness Make Sense release every Tuesday.Subscribe to the new MFMS podcast:Apple PodcastsSpotify
Transcribe →Make Fitness Make Sense, Episode 1 - Collagen, Recovery After 30, and Letting Go of Fitness Guilt
2w ago00:34:41Tap to summarizeWelcome to episode 1 of Make Fitness Make Sense with Coach JK McLeod.This podcast is for people who want fitness, nutrition, and healthy habits explained in a way that actually makes sense.In this episode, JK answers three common fitness questions:Is collagen protein worth taking?Why does recovery feel harder after 30?And how do you deal with guilt when old habits, old thoughts, or old insecurities show back up?In this episode:Why collagen is not the same as whey proteinWhen collagen may or may not be worth usingWhy recovery starts with your actual training planThe role of calories, carbs, hydration, and sleepHow to think through guilt after a rough fitness weekWhy having an old thought does not mean you are back at square one-------Connect with Coach JK:Instagram: @coachjkmcleodEmail: JK@JKMcLeod.comNew episodes of Make Fitness Make Sense release every Tuesday.Subscribe to the new MFMS podcast:Apple PodcastsSpotify
Transcribe →299. Caleb Williams paints his nails, Uber’s Women Preferences, and why context gets lost online
2w ago00:33:22Tap to summarizeIn episode 299, JK gives listeners a preview of where the podcast is headed as it returns to its original roots: Everyday topics, personal perspective, and conversations that move beyond fitness.This episode covers the online conversation surrounding Caleb Williams appearing on the cover of Madden NFL 27 with painted fingernails, including the broader discussion around athletes, masculinity, role models, and how parents can navigate those conversations with their kids. JK also talks through Uber’s Women Preferences feature, and the questions it raises around safety, comfort, fairness, and real-world use.The episode also moves into two bigger-picture topics: why social media is not built for context, and why simply “playing the long game” is not always enough to guarantee growth. -------Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.com
Transcribe →298. Full-body workouts, body recomp frustration, and using AI for fitness (Q&A)
3w ago00:36:16Tap to summarizeIn this Tuesday fitness-focused episode, Coach JK takes five fitness questions and topics from Threads and gives the longer answer behind the quick comment section response.Topics include:Bro split vs. full-body training...what results can I expect?Body recomposition happening, but the scale isn't moving.Recommended prompts to use AI for workouts and nutrition.Still not satisfied after reaching goal weight.Coaching classes with low attendance.-------Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.com
Transcribe →297. Calories in calories out, logging Smith machine weights, choosing home equipment, & asking better questions (Fitness Q+A)
4w ago00:33:23Tap to summarizeIn this Tuesday Fitness Focus Q&A, Coach JK works through a few fitness questions that seem simple at first, but need more context to answer well.Topics include:How should you log weight on the Smith machine?What cardio machine makes the most sense for a home gym?Why some fat-loss questions need better context before better advice can happen.How to think about calories in, calories out without pretending the equation is always simple.Coach JK also closes with a quick note about the direction of Help Me Understand in June and the upcoming launch of Make Fitness Make Sense in July.-------Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.com
Transcribe →296. How to be consistent when life feels chaotic
May 2600:24:04Tap to summarizeSome seasons make it really difficult to feel like you are following any kind of plan.Work gets busier. School calendars get chaotic. Family responsibilities shift. And by the end of the day, it can feel like your health habits never really had a chance.In this episode, Coach JK shares a simple way to put a small win at the beginning and end of your day, especially when everything in the middle feels unpredictable.-------Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.com
Transcribe →295. How science-based fitness claims try to fool you.
May 1900:27:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Coach JK shares his perspective on the difference between correlation and causation, and why that distinction matters for simplifying fitness.Using aging, weight gain, strength loss, injury, menopause, and fitness marketing as examples, JK talks through how easy it is for studies, statistics, and trends to get turned into scary headlines or sales pitches.This episode is a reminder to slow down, ask better questions, and be careful when content uses “the science” to make you feel stuck, scared, or sold to.-------Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.comDM/email the word HABITS for an invite to the free Fitness Foundations Community
Transcribe →294. Shame-based fitness content, Barre for strength, and isolating muscle groups (Q&A)
May 1400:30:24Tap to summarizeIs barre enough for strength training?Do weighted vests make everything better?Why do some fitness accounts seem to rely on shame to get your attention?And when a machine says it targets one muscle, is that really the only muscle working?In this Q&A episode, Coach JK takes a few fitness questions from Threads and gives the longer answer behind the quick comment section response. Think of this episode as: “Here’s what I’d actually do with this information.”-----Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.comDM/email the word HABITS for an invite to the free Fitness Foundations Community
Transcribe →293. 3 types of people who make or break your fitness habits
May 500:28:47Tap to summarizeIn today's episode, you'll discover how different types of relationships influence your ability to build and maintain your foundational fitness habits (eat well, sleep enough, exercise regularly). Coach JK shares his perspective on the three key roles people play in your life and how to leverage or manage them for sustained success.Referenced in today's episode:https://www.arthurtoole.com/3-types-of-people-from-t-j-jakes/https://youtu.be/2M3vzM8YT4o?si=OESKgSLuZxm4_20H-----Instagram: @coachJKmcleodEmail: JK@jkmcleod.com
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