Podcast
The Peak Performance Podcast by Brad Young
Hosted by Brad Young · EN
Welcome to the Peak Performance Podcast—your guide to unlocking your potential and thriving in every area of life. Hosted by Brad Young, Ph.D., bestselling author and trusted voice in health, fitness, and personal growth, this show delivers practical, evidence-based strategies to help you become your best self.
Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts globally—and previously in the top 10 health and fitness podcasts—this show continues to grow, evolve, and raise the bar.
Brad goes beyond theory, breaking down the training, mindset, and nutrition of elite athletes and high performers, then testing these strategies in real life. From running and fitness to mental resilience and modern health technology, he shares what actually works so you can apply it immediately.
Each episode is packed with actionable tools to improve your mental, physical, and emotional well-being—whether you're optimizing performance, building better habits, or overcoming challenges.
This isn’t just information—it’s transformation. Subscribe and start your journey to peak performance today.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical conditions.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 96 AI Driven Coaching and Pre Hab
Apr 100:43:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we're covering two topics that belong together: the rise of AI-driven predictive coaching — what some are calling your new digital coach — and the proactive science of pre-hab and injury prevention. These aren't trends for elite Olympic athletes or professional sports franchises with million-dollar budgets. These are tools and strategies that ordinary, motivated people — weekend warriors, amateur endurance athletes, gym regulars, and anyone serious about their body — can start using right now.Think of this episode like a chapter in a book. We're going to build on each idea, layer by layer, until you walk away with a complete picture and a practical plan you can implement this week. Settle in. Let's get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 95: Aleksandr Kareli - The Russian Bear
Mar 2500:43:48Tap to summarizeTo understand Karelin's dominance, you have to understand one technique that became so associated with him that it was eventually named after him. The Karelin Lift — sometimes called the Karelin Throw — is a move in Greco-Roman wrestling where a competitor lifts an opponent off the mat from behind, hoists them into the air, and slams them down onto their back. This sounds dramatic, but the technical reality makes it even more astonishing.In the super-heavyweight division, Karelin's opponents typically weighed between 260 and 286 pounds. He was lifting men of that size off the ground, inverting them, and driving them into the mat with enough force to score the highest possible points in the sport. Sports scientists who analyzed his mechanics determined that the forces involved in executing the Karelin Lift exceeded what most biomechanics models predicted was possible for a human being to generate through muscular effort alone. The explanation was not that the laws of physics were suspended. The explanation was that Karelin had developed his posterior chain — the muscles running from his hamstrings through his glutes, up his spinal erectors, across his lats and traps — to a degree that was genuinely unprecedented in super-heavyweight competition.He performed this move on opponents who knew it was coming. They trained specifically to defend against it. And he did it anyway. That is the detail that separates a great athlete from a generational one. When your best-trained adversaries prepare specifically for your signature weapon, and you execute it on them anyway, the gap in preparation is not about the technique. It is about the engine behind the technique. Karelin's engine was simply built differently — and we are going to talk about how you can start building yours.
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Episode 94: The Science of Recovery: Unlocking Your Body's Full Potential
Mar 2000:48:35Tap to summarizeWhy Recovery Is the Real TrainingHere's the thing most people get wrong about performance: they think the work happens during the workout. It doesn't. The workout is just the stimulus — the signal you send to your body that says, "things need to change around here." The actual adaptation, the actual growth, the actual performance gain happens during recovery. When you understand that, everything shifts. You stop treating rest days like guilty pleasures and start treating them like the main event.Research published in the Journal of Physiology has demonstrated that muscle protein synthesis — the process by which your muscles rebuild themselves stronger after training — peaks not during exercise but in the hours and days following it, provided the body has adequate nutrients, sleep, and reduced physiological stress. In plain terms: you can work as hard as you want in the gym, but if your recovery is a disaster, you're pouring water into a leaking bucket.
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Episode 93: Inca Warriors Part 2 of 2 : Bringing It to the Modern World
Mar 1500:26:13Tap to summarizeInca Warriors: We look at the Secrets of the Ancient Peak Performers. Sit down, get comfortable, and let the story come to you. By the time we are finished, you are going to have a completely new framework for what it means to perform at your absolute best — physically, mentally, and spiritually. And you are going to walk away with a real, practical training plan rooted in the ancient wisdom of the Inca warriors, adapted for your life today.Now we look at Bringing It to the Modern WorldNow comes the part that I find most exciting. Because everything we have discussed — the endurance, the diet, the mental resilience, the purpose — is not locked in the fourteenth century. It is completely, practically available to you right now. You do not need to live in the Andes. You do not need access to a sling or a quinoa field. What you need is to understand the principles behind what the Inca warriors did, and to apply those principles intelligently to your own life and training.
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Episode 92: Inca Warriors" Peak Performers Part 1 of 2
Mar 1000:31:09Tap to summarizeThis episode is on the Inca Warriors: We look at the Secrets of the Ancient Peak Performers. Sit down, get comfortable, and let the story come to you. By the time we are finished, you are going to have a completely new framework for what it means to perform at your absolute best — physically, mentally, and spiritually. And you are going to walk away with a real, practical training plan rooted in the ancient wisdom of the Inca warriors, adapted for your life today.
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Episode 91: Ancient Motion: Unlocking the Secrets of Peak Performance Through Ancestral Movements
Mar 500:50:43Tap to summarizeThis episode explores how reconnecting with these primal movement patterns can unlock levels of performance, vitality, and wellbeing that modern fitness culture often misses entirely. We will dive deep into practical strategies that honor our ancestral blueprint while fitting seamlessly into contemporary life. Think of this not as a return to the past, but as a reclamation of timeless wisdom that can transform your present and future.The Forgotten Language of MovementOur ancestors moved with an eloquence that modern humans have largely forgotten. Every day brought a symphony of natural movements: squatting to gather food, climbing to reach safety or resources, crawling through tight spaces, balancing across uneven terrain, lifting, carrying, throwing, and running. These were not isolated exercises performed in fluorescent-lit gyms. They were integrated, purposeful movements woven into the fabric of daily survival and thriving.
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Episode 90: 2 of 2 on Serge Nubret his Philosophy vs. Top Ten Training Methods
Feb 2500:33:05Tap to summarizeToday we explore the legendary Serge Nubret, a man who carved his physique with methods that defied convention and continue to challenge modern bodybuilding wisdom. Known as The Black Panther for his sleek, aesthetic build and feline grace, Nubret represented something different in the golden age of bodybuilding. While his contemporaries lifted heavy and ate massive amounts, Nubret pursued volume, finesse, and simplicity. His approach wasn't just about building muscle, it was about crafting a work of art. In this episode, we'll journey through his training philosophy, compare his methods to both golden age icons and modern bodybuilders, examine how his approach prevents injuries while acknowledging its limitations, and provide you with a practical workout schedule inspired by his timeless wisdom. This is part 2 of 2 on Serge Nubret.Nubret's Philosophy vs. Top Ten Training MethodsComparing Serge Nubret's training philosophy against the ten most influential modern training methodologies reveals distinct advantages and limitations across different training goals. Each method represents a different balance of volume, intensity, frequency, and specificity. Understanding these trade-offs helps identify which approach or combination of approaches best serves individual needs, goals, and constraints.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Episode 89: The Legend of Serge Nubret Part 1 of 2
Feb 2000:49:04Tap to summarizeSerge Nubret was born in 1938 in Guadeloupe and became one of bodybuilding's most aesthetic competitors. Standing at 6 feet tall with a competition weight around 200 pounds, he competed against Arnold Schwarzenegger, winning the 1976 NABBA Mr. Universe and placing second in the 1973 Mr. Olympia. His physique was characterized by perfect symmetry, tiny waist, and full muscle bellies that created a V-taper rarely seen in any era.The PhilosophyWhat separated Nubret from his peers was his unwavering belief in high-volume training with moderate weights and minimal rest. While others chased strength records, he chased the pump. While others counted calories obsessively, he ate intuitively. His methods were born from careful observation of his own body and an almost spiritual connection to the training process. He believed bodybuilding was meditation in motion.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Episode 88: Elite Military Units: Peak Performance Lessons from the World's Best
Feb 1500:42:39Tap to summarizeElite military units represent the pinnacle of human performance under the most demanding conditions imaginable. These organizations have spent decades refining selection processes, training methodologies, and performance systems that push individuals beyond what most people believe possible. While most of us will never face combat, the principles these units use to create peak performers are universally applicable.Today, we're going to examine nine of the world's most elite military units, extracting the core lessons that separate exceptional performers from everyone else. More importantly, we'll translate these military-grade performance principles into practical strategies you can implement immediately, regardless of your current fitness level or life circumstances.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Episode 87 The Morning Routines of Peak Performers
Feb 1000:41:49Tap to summarizeYour morning is not just the beginning of your day. It is the architect of your entire life. The way you structure those precious first hours determines whether you will merely react to the world around you or proactively shape your destiny. Peak performers understand this fundamental truth with crystal clarity, which is why they guard their morning routines with fierce dedication.Throughout history, the most successful athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and military leaders have recognized that morning habits set the tone for everything that follows. These rituals are not arbitrary collections of activities but carefully designed systems that prime the mind, energize the body, and align the spirit with purpose. When you win the morning, you create momentum that carries through every challenge and opportunity the day presents.The consistency and discipline embedded in a structured morning routine create a psychological foundation that transforms ordinary individuals into extraordinary performers. This is not about following someone else's blueprint exactly but understanding the principles that make morning routines so powerful and then customizing them to align with your unique goals, values, and aspirations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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