Podcast
Muscle Intelligence
Hosted by Ben Pakulski · EN
The Muscle Intelligence Podcast empowers men with the skills, habits, beliefs and processes to lead from the front. After spending more than 25 years in the health and fitness industry, Ben has done the research, coached, worked with or spoken to the best in class, and distilled it down into actionable items for you to take away and implement.
If you're an executive, entrepreneur or high-performer who wants to work smarter, not lose his edge as he ages, or just get the advice of someone who has been in the trenches for the last 25 years, this podcast is for you.
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Energy Molecule High Performers Are Quietly Using
3d ago01:07:17Tap to summarizeOur trusted source for Methylene Blue: https://www.troscriptions.com/muscle (10% off) Functional medicine Dr. Scott Sherr joins Ben Pakulski to break down methylene blue — the 100-year-old compound that's become one of Ben's favorite tools for energy, focus, and endurance. Dr. Sherr explains how it reboots mitochondrial function in days (not months), how one endurance athlete he coaches cut three hours off a 100-mile race, and how to dose it safely. Plus the warning most people never hear: why the majority of methylene blue sold online is contaminated, and what to look for in a clean source. In this episode… → The bottleneck behind almost everything (energy, brain, recovery, fat loss) → The four complexes of your electron transport chain, and where most men are blocked → Why statins might be quietly trashing the system you're trying to optimize → Which molecule does "ninja moves" for mitochondrial dysfunction → The exact dosing protocol Scott uses for performance, travel, sauna, and endurance About Dr. Sherr Dr. Scott Sherr is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and one of the leading clinical voices on methylene blue and mitochondrial medicine. He is certified to practice Health Optimization Medicine (HOMe) — a root-cause framework he helped bring to the U.S. as founder of HOMe-SF, the country's first HOMe clinic — and is a specialist in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). He is the COO of Troscriptions (the precision-dosed troche company behind Just Blue, Tro+ Blue, and Blue Cannatine) and its parent, Smarter Not Harder, as well as COO of the nonprofit Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMe/HOPe) USA, which trains doctors to detect and correct the root causes of health. He is also co-founder of OneBase Health, an integrative HBOT ecosystem. He has consulted for Upgrade Labs, Remedy Place, and other wellness ventures, and lives in Louisville, CO with his wife and four kids. Key credentials Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) specialist COO, Troscriptions / Smarter Not Harder COO, Health Optimization Medicine & Practice (HOMe/HOPe) USA Co-Founder, OneBase Health Connect with Dr. Sherr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drscottsherr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsherr Website: https://drscottsherr.com/ Work with Muscle Intelligence The proven system 1000+ men use to stay lean, strong, clear, and capable. https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply/ If you're interested in working with Ben. ben@muscleintelligence.com Join 200,000 men in their prime, reading our weekly newsletter: http://muscleintelligence.com/newsletter
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The Hardest Training Camp of My Life Starts in 30 Days...
1w ago00:44:24Tap to summarizeTry my focus stack: https://www.troscriptions.com/muscle Work with me: https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply In 30 days, Ben Pakulski embarks on the hardest training camp of his life. In this solo episode, Ben opens up Peak Performance Season with the exact 30-day protocol he's running to prepare: how he's rebuilding mobility, stability, strength, and endurance to become the best athlete he's ever been. Whether you're 35, 45, or 65, this is the blueprint for training like an athlete again — not just lifting weights. In this episode we cover: The 20-minute daily habit most lifters refuse to do Why stretching alone is making you weaker The test 95% of adults can't pass anymore The 8 lifts that decide whether you age well The 7% rule that kills every excuse Join 200,000 men in their prime, reading our weekly newsletter: http://muscleintelligence.com/newsletter Unlock Your Full Muscle Building Potential With Our Complete Training Guides: https://go.muscleintelligence.com/bodypart/ Hypertrophy Execution Mastery: The most comprehensive MI40 muscle-building program EVER! https://hypertrophymastery.com/
Transcribe →The New Rules for Getting Lean After 40
2w ago00:22:27Tap to summarizeFollow my annual testing protocol: https://www.muscleintelligence.com/testing My favorite focus stack: https://www.troscriptions.com/muscle My latest biohacking experiment (drug free): http://bit.ly/4tH6jJI Most men over 40 have been sold the same story: decline is inevitable. You get softer. Your energy drops. Your joints hurt. Your testosterone falls. Your confidence fades. And slowly, you start accepting less from your body, your mind, and your life. But what if that story is outdated? In this solo episode, Ben Pakulski breaks down why decline after 40 is not inevitable, and why for many men, it can be slowed, stopped, or even reversed when the right systems are in place. Ben explains that the body does not decline simply because another birthday passes. It declines because of neglect: the workouts you skip, the sleep you compromise, the protein you miss, the movement you avoid, the pain you tolerate, and the outdated beliefs you continue to operate from. Using the real transformation of a client who lost roughly 30 pounds in 17 weeks, Ben shows what becomes possible when a man stops guessing, starts measuring, and rebuilds his body with precision. The result is not just fat loss. It is restored confidence, better training, less pain, stronger character, and a new vision for what life after 40 can look like. This episode is for the man who refuses to accept decline as his default future. Points To Watch Out For: Why decline after 40 is not inevitable The trap of unconsciously accept aging as an excuse How modern testing and tracking have changed what is possible in anti-aging Case Study: How one client lost roughly 30 pounds in 17 weeks How heart rate recovery, sleep, and resting heart rate reveal when to push harder The Man 4.0 Framework for accelerating transformation
Transcribe →The 10 Part Diagnostic Every Man Needs to Run in 2026
3w ago00:42:55Tap to summarizeWant the mental edge Ben trains with? Head to https://www.troscriptions.com and use code MUSCLE for 10% off https://www.troscriptions.com/muscle Download the Muscle Intelligence Executive Testing Protocol from this podcast: https://www/muscleintelligence.com/testing The rules of body transformation have changed, and if you are still running a protocol from five years ago, you are already behind. In this episode, Ben Pakulski introduces Man 4.0, the precision-based evolution in how high-performing men approach their health. Ben walks through the complete 10-part diagnostic his team uses with clients, covering genetics, advanced blood work, gut health, sleep, stress resilience, VO2 max, strength, and body composition. He explains why stabilizing the system always comes before optimizing it, and why generic protocols fail the men who need precision most. If you are tired of guessing and ready to engineer your results, this episode is the blueprint. 5 Bullet Points: The 10-part diagnostic Ben uses with every client Why stabilizing always comes before optimizing How genetics determine which supplements work for you The three systems to fix before adding anything else Why Man 3.0 plateaus and Man 4.0 breaks through
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Stop Guessing Your Longevity Protocol After 40
May 400:33:03Tap to summarizeLast Call for The Warrior Monk Challenge A 21-day philosophy + fitness challenge with Ben Pakulski and Brian Johnson starting on May 1st, 2026. http://warriormonkchallenge.com/ In this solo episode, Ben Pakulski introduces the next evolution of Muscle Intelligence: the Man 4.0 diagnostic framework for men over 40 who want longevity and body transformation without wasting time on random protocols. Ben walks through how he thinks about bloodwork, genetics, full-body imaging, brain health, metabolism testing, movement, sleep, and behavior change so you can stop guessing and start building a body that reflects your actual physiology. This is the first part of a deeper series on the Muscle Intelligence 10-part diagnostic, built to help you understand what your body needs, what is missing, and how to make better decisions about training, recovery, supplementation, and performance. 5 Bullet Points: Doing everything right and still plateauing The 6 tests Ben runs yearly What Ben found in his brain scan Why blood testing is no longer enough Man 4.0 vs guesswork Call To Actions: The proven system 1000+ men use to stay lean, strong, clear, and capable. https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply/
Transcribe →Peptides, Mitochondria, and the Future of Longevity | Alex Kikel
Apr 2702:52:21Tap to summarizeWant the mental edge Ben trains with? Head to https://www.troscriptions.com/muscle for 10% off Alex Kikel has spent 14 years coaching the world's best athletes across the NFL, NBA, and NHL. In this episode, he sits down with Ben to reveal his most advanced tools that separate elite performers from everyone else at the cellular level. From the peptides keeping pro athletes unbreakable, to the reason your energy crashes every afternoon and the recovery tools most coaches have never heard of, this conversation goes places most podcasts never reach. If you are a high performer who trains hard, eats right, and still feels like something is missing, this episode was made for you. Required listening. 5 Bullet Points: Optimized water that restores your energy Alex's travel protocol that kills jetlag and travel bugs Peptides the pros use that you've never heard of Alex's most advanced biohacking protocols How Alex and Ben are reversing their biological age faster Call To Actions: The proven system 1000+ men use to stay lean, strong, clear, and capable. https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply/ If you're interested in working with Ben. ben@muscleintelligence.com Join 200,000 men in their prime, reading our weekly newsletter: http://muscleintelligence.com/newsletter Unlock Your Full Muscle Building Potential With Our Complete Training Guides: https://go.muscleintelligence.com/bodypart/ Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways we can help you look, feel and perform at your best: 1. Grab a free copy of 1 of our BRAND NEW Peak Performance Protocols. This is for high performers looking to 10x their training and nutrition results by becoming 10x more effective. Click here - https://go.muscleintelligence.com/high-performance-executive-report/ 2. Join the Muscle Intelligence Community and connect with other men like you who want to uplevel their health and fitness. It's our new Facebook group where I coach members live, share what's working with my private clients and announce tickets to my upcoming trainings and events. Click here - https://www.muscleintelligence.com/community 3. Work with me 1-on-1 If you're a top performing executive or entrepreneur who wants a fully customized comprehensive health protocol and support from a team of world-class specialists, click here to speak with a member of my team to review all of your goals and options: https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply?utm_campaign=YT Guest Bio Alex Kikel is one of the most advanced performance and longevity coaches in professional sports. After a severe concussion ended his lacrosse career, he spent the next decade obsessing over how to rebuild the human body from the inside out. Today he works with elite athletes across the NFL, NBA, NHL and bodybuilding solving the complex performance and health problems most coaches cannot touch. With 14 years of case study data and a client list that spans professional sport, Alex operates at a level few practitioners ever reach. Find him at theprepcoach.com.
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The 21 -Day Challenge That Will Complete the Man You're Building
Apr 2200:13:32Tap to summarizeJoin The Warrior Monk Challenge! A 21-day philosophy + fitness challenge with Ben Pakulski and Brian Johnson. http://warriormonkchallenge.com/ Ben Pakulski steps away from peptides and programming to share the philosophy that changed his life. Drawing on Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, he opens up about the mindset shift that carried him through Olympia prep and redirected his family's legacy. This episode goes deeper than physical performance. It is about the gap between stimulus and response, the difference between information and insight, and why the body is only one piece of what it means to thrive. If you have ever changed your body but still felt empty, this is the episode you need.
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The Warrior Monk Framework for High Performers
Apr 2000:49:37Tap to summarizeJoin Brian and Me in the Warrior Monk Challenge starting May 1st: WarriorMonkChallenge.com What if the key to peak performance wasn't another supplement or training protocol, but wisdom? Ben sits down with philosopher, author, and founder of Philosopher's Notes, Brian Johnson, for one of the most thought-provoking conversations in Muscle Intelligence history. They cover attention mastery, the ancient Greek blueprint for a great life, the warrior-monk duality every high-performing man needs, and the 30-day Warrior Monk Challenge they've built together to transform your body and mind. If you've ever felt pulled in too many directions, this episode will sharpen your focus and reignite your sense of purpose. Don't miss it. 5 Bullet Points: Why your attention is your most valuable asset The ancient Greek formula for a great life Brian's 101 books in 101 days challenge The Energy, Work, Love framework Why warriors must also become monks About Ben Ben Pakulski is the Chief Performance Officer to elite executives, successful entrepreneurs, and top athletes.With over 25 years of experience, he coaches high achievers to build the physical, psychological, and metabolic resilience required to lead at the highest level. As the creator of the Muscle Intelligence framework, Ben specializes in aligning biology and behavior to drive sustained peak performance. His mission is to redefine what's possible for people in their prime and push the boundaries of human potential. Guest Bio Brian Johnson is the founder of Philosopher's Notes and Heroic, and one of the most respected distillers of human wisdom alive today. Having personally read and synthesized over 750 of the greatest books ever written, spanning ancient Stoicism to modern positive psychology, Brian has dedicated his life to one mission: helping people move from theory to practice to mastery. His work bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science in a way that is both deeply intellectual and immediately actionable. A devoted husband, father, philosopher, and athlete, Brian embodies the principles he teaches. Millions of people around the world have used his work to transform their energy, their relationships, and their purpose. He is, in the truest sense, a philosopher for the modern age. Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome Brian Johnson 00:50 Why Philosophers Notes 05:04 Handcrafted Wisdom vs AI 12:05 Attention and Choosing Books 17:46 Be Your Best Self Framework 24:25 Own Your Morning 27:42 Top Notes To Start 33:17 Warrior Monk Challenge 37:21 Fitness Foundations Simplified 43:20 30 Day System And Wrap
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7 Reasons Your Hard Training Isn't Building Any Muscle
Apr 1300:28:26Tap to summarizeWant the mental edge Ben trains with? Head to troscriptions.com and use code MUSCLE for 10% off Troscriptions.com/muscle Curious about the REM and Boost patches Ben is testing? Head to superpatch.com to try them out Join The #1 Online Community for Men Over 35 to Transform Their Bodies and Reclaim Their Vitality. muscleintelligence.com/VIPmembership Most people are working hard in the gym and getting it wrong. In this episode, Ben Pakulski breaks down the real building block of muscle growth, and it starts with a single inch of a rep. Ben reveals why counting reps is one of the biggest mistakes in training, how to maximize tension in the exact range that matters most, why tightness signals weakness, and why breathing may be the most overlooked foundation in all of fitness. If your results have stalled or you've been putting in effort without answers, this episode will change how you train permanently. Do not skip this one. 5 Bullet Points: Muscles respond to tension and fatigue, not rep count One inch of a rep can transform your training Tightness in your body signals weakness, not age Diaphragmatic breathing is the foundation of every workout Path and profile determine which muscles actually work Call To Actions: The proven system 1000+ men use to stay lean, strong, clear, and capable. https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply/ If you're interested in working with Ben. ben@muscleintelligence.com Join 200,000 men in their prime, reading our weekly newsletter: http://muscleintelligence.com/newsletter Unlock Your Full Muscle Building Potential With Our Complete Training Guides: https://go.muscleintelligence.com/bodypart/ Hypertrophy Execution Mastery: The most comprehensive MI40 muscle-building program EVER! https://hypertrophymastery.com/ Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways we can help you look, feel and perform at your best: 1. Grab a free copy of 1 of our BRAND NEW Peak Performance Protocols. This is for high performers looking to 10x their training and nutrition results by becoming 10x more effective. Click here - https://go.muscleintelligence.com/high-performance-executive-report/ 2. Join the Muscle Intelligence Community and connect with other men like you who want to uplevel their health and fitness. It's our new Facebook group where I coach members live, share what's working with my private clients and announce tickets to my upcoming trainings and events. Click here - https://www.muscleintelligence.com/community 3. Work with me 1-on-1 If you're a top performing executive or entrepreneur who wants a fully customized comprehensive health protocol and support from a team of world-class specialists, click here to speak with a member of my team to review all of your goals and options: https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply?utm_campaign=YT About Ben Ben Pakulski is the Chief Performance Officer to elite executives, successful entrepreneurs, and top athletes.With over 25 years of experience, he coaches high achievers to build the physical, psychological, and metabolic resilience required to lead at the highest level. As the creator of the Muscle Intelligence framework, Ben specializes in aligning biology and behavior to drive sustained peak performance. His mission is to redefine what's possible for people in their prime and push the boundaries of human potential.
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Matt Jordan: What Every Athlete Gets Wrong About Power
Apr 201:32:27Tap to summarizeGet precision-dosed nootropics at: https://www.Troscriptions.com/muscle What if everything you think you know about injury and recovery is wrong? Ben Pakulski sits down with world-class sports scientist Matt Jordan to unpack the real science behind power, injury risk, and staying athletic after 40. They cover eccentric training, why braking force is the most overlooked quality in human performance, and what an NHL player's three-year comeback taught them about precision load management. If you train hard and want to stay that way, this conversation will change how you think about your body. 5 Bullet Points: Muscle power drops twice as fast as strength Your jump pattern reveals hidden injury risk Eccentric overload drove 30% power gains Unilateral training stops nervous system compensation Gait predicts overload before pain appears Call To Actions: The proven system 1000+ men use to stay lean, strong, clear, and capable. https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply/ If you're interested in working with Ben. ben@muscleintelligence.com Join 200,000 men in their prime, reading our weekly newsletter: http://muscleintelligence.com/newsletter Unlock Your Full Muscle Building Potential With Our Complete Training Guides: https://go.muscleintelligence.com/bodypart/ Hypertrophy Execution Mastery: The most comprehensive MI40 muscle-building program EVER! https://hypertrophymastery.com/ Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways we can help you look, feel and perform at your best: 1. Grab a free copy of 1 of our BRAND NEW Peak Performance Protocols. This is for high performers looking to 10x their training and nutrition results by becoming 10x more effective. Click here - https://go.muscleintelligence.com/high-performance-executive-report/ 2. Join the Muscle Intelligence Community and connect with other men like you who want to uplevel their health and fitness. It's our new Facebook group where I coach members live, share what's working with my private clients and announce tickets to my upcoming trainings and events. Click here - https://www.muscleintelligence.com/community 3. Work with me 1-on-1 If you're a top performing executive or entrepreneur who wants a fully customized comprehensive health protocol and support from a team of world-class specialists, click here to speak with a member of my team to review all of your goals and options: https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply?utm_campaign=YT About Ben Ben Pakulski is the Chief Performance Officer to elite executives, successful entrepreneurs, and top athletes.With over 25 years of experience, he coaches high achievers to build the physical, psychological, and metabolic resilience required to lead at the highest level. As the creator of the Muscle Intelligence framework, Ben specializes in aligning biology and behavior to drive sustained peak performance. His mission is to redefine what's possible for people in their prime and push the boundaries of human potential. Guest Bio Matt Jordan is one of Canada's leading sports scientists and strength coaches, specializing in biomechanics, injury rehabilitation, and elite athletic performance. Based at the University of Calgary, his research focuses on eccentric muscle function, ACL injury prevention, and precision load management. He has worked with Olympic athletes, NHL players, and elite alpine ski racers, helping some of sport's most complex injury cases return to competition. A former mentee of Charles Poliquin, Matt brings rare scientific depth and genuine coaching mastery to every conversation. Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro 04:35 Imaging ACL Morphology 07:36 Rebuilding Movement Patterns 11:29 Precision Load Tracking 21:03 Mindset Shapes Physiology 28:55 EMG Jump Power Testing 39:11 Unloading and Braking 41:28 Unimodal vs Bimodal Curves 43:21 EMG and Pre Activation 45:13 Cueing New Jump Strategy 47:14 Injury Style Jump Profile 50:33 Eccentric Leg Press Machine 01:16:39 Tissue Quality and Recovery
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