Podcast
The Weaponized BODY
Hosted by Dr. Ryan J Hewitt · EN
The Weaponized Body is the ultimate podcast for busy dads, men, and business professionals striving to optimize performance, health, and recovery. Designed to help you expand as a father, husband, and leader, this podcast delivers actionable strategies to overcome internal and external challenges. From mastering metabolic health to rewiring your mindset, every episode empowers you to conquer obstacles, build resilience, and unlock your full potential. It's time to transform your body and mind into your greatest assets. Are you ready to weaponize your body?
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Stop Taking Peptides Before You Get These Labs
2w ago00:23:55Tap to summarizeEverybody is talking about peptides right now, BPC-157, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Tessamorelin, GLP-1 medications, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide, NAD, MOTS-c, SS-31, and longevity stacks. But here’s the problem: most people are starting peptide therapy without baseline labs, metabolic markers, cardiovascular risk testing, hormone panels, kidney function, liver markers, or any real data. They are relying on TikTok, influencers, symptoms, and “how they feel” instead of objective biomarkers. In this episode, Dr. Ryan breaks down why peptides are not magic, why blind peptide use can backfire, and why you need blood work before starting GLP-1s, growth hormone secretagogues, healing peptides, or fat loss stacks. You’ll learn how fasting insulin, A1C, ApoB, hs-CRP, IGF-1, thyroid markers, kidney function, liver health, body composition, and inflammation markers help determine whether peptides are actually helping you or quietly making things worse. This is for anyone considering peptide therapy, using weight loss peptides, or trying to optimize health, longevity, fat loss, recovery, hormones, and performance without gambling with their body. You’ll learn: → Why symptom tracking alone is not enough when using peptides → How GLP-1 weight loss can still lead to muscle loss or poor metabolic health → Why IGF-1 matters for growth hormone peptides like CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin → Which lab markers reveal inflammation, insulin resistance, liver stress, kidney stress, and cardiovascular risk before starting a peptide protocol. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Most TRT Clinics Miss These 7 Critical Lab Markers
4w ago00:29:33Tap to summarizeMost TRT clinics are not truly optimizing your health. They’re managing your testosterone like a thermostat, checking a few basic labs, and sending you on your way while bigger issues build in the background. In this episode, we break down the TRT blood work markers that actually matter if you want testosterone replacement therapy to improve performance, recovery, body composition, and long-term health. If you’re on TRT and still dealing with fatigue, poor fat loss, bad recovery, rising hematocrit, cholesterol issues, or unexplained health changes, this is the video for you. You’ll learn why total testosterone alone is not enough, why free testosterone matters more than most clinics admit, and how overlooked biomarkers like homocysteine, ApoB, ferritin, fasting insulin, IGF-1, and hematocrit can reveal silent cardiovascular risk, poor metabolic health, bad iron management, and stalled results. This is for men and women who want smarter TRT monitoring, better hormone optimization, and a long-term strategy that supports energy, muscle, recovery, and overall wellness instead of creating hidden problems years later. In this episode, you’ll learn why homocysteine can signal silent cardiovascular stress, how hematocrit trends should be interpreted in context instead of managed lazily with routine blood donation, why ApoB is a more useful marker for heart risk than a basic lipid panel, and how IGF-1, free testosterone, fasting insulin, and ferritin can explain poor recovery, fat loss resistance, low energy, weak performance, and the common reason many people feel worse after being on TRT for one to two years. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: →Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ →The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ →Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ →Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ →YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody #TRT #TestosteroneReplacementTherapy #HormoneOptimization #MensHealth #BloodWork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →You’re Not Aging… You’re Deficient in THIS
Mar 2700:27:35Tap to summarizeMost people think they’re getting older… but what if you’re actually just becoming deficient? Not in protein, vitamins, or supplements, but in something far more important: movement. In today’s world, we’ve been trained to treat exercise like it’s optional, or something you only do to lose weight. But that mindset is completely backwards. Movement isn’t just something you should do… it’s something your body requires to function, think, and stay alive at a high level. If you’ve been feeling stiff, tired, weaker, slower, or mentally foggy… it might not be “aging.” It might be that your body is missing key forms of movement it was designed to depend on. In this episode, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down the concept of movement as a nutrient, and reveals the 4 essential types your body needs every week to stay strong, sharp, and resilient. If you want more energy, better focus, stronger joints, and a body that doesn’t break down with time… this is for you. Highlights: → You’ll learn why walking is the most overlooked foundation for brain health, joint function, and metabolic efficiency, and why it should never be considered “exercise,” but a daily requirement. → We break down how strength training acts like a longevity multiplier by increasing muscle mass, bone density, and even improving cognitive performance and hormone balance. → You’ll discover how cardiovascular training boosts brain function through BDNF, improves mood, reduces anxiety, and dramatically enhances sleep quality and recovery. → And finally, you’ll understand why sprinting and explosive movement are critical for preserving fast-twitch muscle fibers, preventing injury, and maintaining real-world strength and resilience as you age. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Why 40% Never Fully Recover After Surgery
Mar 1200:41:14Tap to summarizeIf you are recovering from surgery, dealing with an orthopedic injury, or trying to avoid long-term setbacks after rehab, this episode breaks down what actually helps your body heal faster. Dr. Ryan Hewitt explains why so many people never return to their previous level of function after ACL surgery, ankle repair, shoulder reconstruction, or other major injuries, and why recovery is often sabotaged by poor sleep, bad nutrition, inactivity, stress, and overuse of pain medication. This is a practical, science-backed conversation on injury recovery, post-surgery healing, physical therapy, muscle loss, tissue repair, ligament healing, bone healing, blood flow, inflammation, and recovery habits that truly matter. Dr. Ryan also shares his own real-time recovery plan after traumatic ankle surgery, including rehab strategy, sleep priorities, hydration, protein intake, supplements, peptides, testosterone therapy, and the mindset required to get back to full performance. If you want to heal faster after surgery, protect muscle during immobilization, improve recovery outcomes, and avoid wasting money on useless recovery gadgets, this episode gives you a smarter blueprint for rebuilding your body the right way. You’ll Learn: → Why the inflammation phase is necessary and why trying to shut it down too aggressively can backfire. → Dr. Ryan explains the three phases of healing, the six pillars that accelerate recovery, and why sleep may be the most underrated healing tool in the entire process. → He also covers why protein, calories, hydration, blood flow, progressive loading, and metabolic health are essential for muscle preservation, collagen production, and long-term joint function. → You’ll also hear his take on BPC-157, TB-500, growth-hormone-related peptides, NAD support, core supplements, and the biggest healing saboteurs like nicotine, chronic NSAID use, alcohol, and inactivity. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website The Weaponized Body Program Weaponized wellness HRT Instagram YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Injury That Exposed a Big Problem in My Business (And How I’m Fixing It)
Mar 500:19:33Tap to summarizeWhat happened to my leg on Wednesday changed everything. I slipped on ice during marathon training, 15 degrees outside, 40 pounds on my back, running my dog, and I suffered a traumatic ankle dislocation and fracture. One second I was pushing through winter miles, the next my foot was literally sideways, and I knew something was seriously wrong. This episode is the full story of the injury, the ER visit, the X-rays, and why I’m now scheduled for ankle surgery and stabilization (including deltoid ligament repair and syndesmosis support). But this isn’t just an ankle injury update. It’s a mindset, faith, and leadership episode for anyone who’s grinding hard, athletes, chiropractors, business owners, entrepreneurs, and high performers, who secretly knows their life or business relies too heavily on them. If you’ve ever feared getting sidelined, losing momentum, or letting your family down because you can’t “perform,” this is for you. I’m sharing the mental shift that kept me out of a dark place, how my marriage and team are carrying me, and the exact lesson: build guardrails before life forces you to. Highlights: → You’ll hear the exact moment the injury happened, what a traumatic ankle dislocation feels like, and why it required surgery instead of “just rest.” → I break down the decision-making process, advocating for myself, choosing the right orthopedic surgeon, and what ankle stabilization can involve (ligaments, syndesmosis, and long-term stability for running again). → Then we go deeper: how this exposed my identity as an athlete and how that identity was quietly limiting my growth as a CEO and business owner. → Finally, I share practical “guardrails” every entrepreneur should have, systems, team structure, savings, and disability insurance, so your business can keep serving people even when you’re forced to stop. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website The Weaponized Body Program Weaponized wellness HRT Instagram YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →12 Normal Lab Results That Are Actually Metabolic Red Flags
Feb 1900:30:50Tap to summarizeIf your doctor said your blood work is “normal” but you still feel exhausted, foggy, inflamed, or stuck… this episode is for you. A normal lab range doesn’t mean optimal health, it often just means you’re statistically average inside a population that’s stressed, sedentary, and metabolically unhealthy. In this metabolic deep-dive, I break down lab markers that frequently get skipped or written off because they fall inside “reference range,” yet they can still be early warning signs of insulin resistance, poor recovery, hormone disruption, thyroid stress, and slow metabolic function. We’re talking about the high-normal lab trap: fasting blood glucose creeping toward 100, fasting insulin rising even when glucose looks fine, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) sitting in the upper end of normal while you still have fatigue, brain fog, cold intolerance, cravings, or stubborn body composition. This is an educational class, not medical advice, but it will help you understand patterns, interpret metabolic labs more intelligently, and have better conversations with your healthcare provider about optimal ranges, symptoms, and performance-based health. Highlights: → You’ll learn why reference ranges are built from statistical averages and why symptoms can show up years before labs fall outside “normal.” → We’ll cover what “high-normal” fasting glucose can signal about early insulin resistance, stress, sleep quality, and aging. → You’ll see why fasting insulin may be one of the earliest metabolic warning signs, sometimes showing trouble even when A1C and glucose look okay, and how chronically elevated insulin can impact inflammation, fat storage, hormones, and recovery. → We’ll also unpack TSH as a signaling hormone from the pituitary, why it’s often misread in isolation, and why context like free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies matters when you feel “off” despite normal labs. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website The Weaponized Body Program Weaponized wellness HRT Instagram YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Low Testosterone in Women: The Silent Hormone Crisis No One Tests For
Feb 1200:42:48Tap to summarizeLow testosterone in women is one of the most ignored health problems today, and it can quietly wreck your energy, mood, body composition, and libido for years while your labs come back “normal.” In this episode of The Weaponized Body Podcast, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down the real signs of low testosterone in women, why most doctors don’t test hormones properly, and why total testosterone alone doesn’t tell the full story. If you’re dealing with brain fog, stubborn weight gain, anxiety, low motivation, poor workout recovery, loss of muscle tone, or a libido that disappeared even though the emotional connection is still there, this conversation is for you. We talk about why women’s hormone decline isn’t just “normal aging,” how chronic stress and cortisol dominance suppress androgens, and how birth control can increase sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and tank your usable free testosterone. You’ll learn what a comprehensive hormone panel should include, what to look for, and the lifestyle foundations that protect hormones, strength training, protein, healthy fats, sleep, and stress reduction, before you ever consider medical optimization. You’ll learn: → The most common real-world symptoms of low testosterone in women and why they often get misdiagnosed as stress, depression, or “getting older.” → The difference between total testosterone and free testosterone, why SHBG can hide the real problem, and what markers to include in a proper hormone panel (including DHEA, progesterone, LH/FSH, thyroid, cortisol patterns, and metabolic markers). → How postpartum recovery, fertility treatments, under-eating/over-training, and insulin resistance can contribute to long-term hormone suppression. → The non-negotiable lifestyle levers that actually move the needle, without falling for “hormone balancing” supplement marketing. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Clomid Isn’t TRT: Why Your Testosterone Labs Improve… But You Don’t
Feb 600:18:40Tap to summarizeAre you chasing better testosterone levels but still feel exhausted, foggy, and unmotivated? In this episode of The Weaponized Body, Dr. Ryan Hewitt exposes the truth behind a growing trend in hormone therapy, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). These so-called "natural" testosterone boosters are being handed out like candy, but are they actually helping men feel better... or just padding lab results? Dr. Ryan Hewitt tackles a critical issue in men's health: why so many are being prescribed medications like Clomid or Enclomiphene in place of true Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), and why that often fails. He breaks down the complex science in simple terms and explains why good numbers on a blood test don’t always mean better energy, libido, or masculinity. With real-world examples and brutally honest insights, this episode is a must-listen for any man serious about optimizing performance, recovery, and long-term health. In this episode, you'll learn: → Why SERMs don’t actually replace testosterone, and what they really do to your brain and hormones → The five assumptions that have to be true for SERMs to even have a chance at working → The side effects most doctors won’t warn you about: from estrogen chaos to vision issues → When SERMs do make sense (like post-cycle therapy or fertility preservation) → Why properly managed TRT, when indicated, often outperforms all the "hacks" out there “Chasing lab values is not optimizing your life. Real results come from stable hormones and intelligent strategy.” - Dr. Ryan Hewitt If you’re a hard-working man who's doing all the right things, training, eating clean, sleeping well, but still feel off… it’s time to stop guessing. Get your hormones checked with real, comprehensive labs. Subscribe to Weaponized Body, share this episode with a friend, and start asking better questions about your health. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Alcohol Is Killing Your Recovery (Even If You “Drink Normally”)
Jan 3000:24:36Tap to summarizeAlcohol is one of the most socially accepted performance killers, and most people have no idea what it’s doing to their sleep quality, HRV, resting heart rate, hormones, recovery, inflammation, and body composition. In this episode of The Weaponized Body Podcast, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down what alcohol really costs you, even if you’re only having 1–2 drinks or “just drinking socially.” If you’re training hard but still dealing with poor sleep, stubborn belly fat, low energy, flat workouts, joint pain, rising triglycerides, fatty liver markers, elevated fasting blood sugar, or declining testosterone, this may be the hidden lever that’s holding you back. You’ll hear a data-driven perspective (including wearable tracking like WHOOP, deep sleep, REM sleep, HRV, and resting heart rate) plus real clinical patterns from lab work, like triglycerides, AST/ALT, GGT, fasting glucose, and hormone shifts. This is not an anti-alcohol shame episode. It’s an honest look at how alcohol impacts metabolic health, fat oxidation, recovery, and longevity, and how to make a smarter decision based on what you actually want: a stronger body, a stronger mind, and a stronger life. You’ll Learn: → Why alcohol can make you “pass out” but still wreck REM sleep and recovery → How alcohol impacts HRV and resting heart rate (and what that means) → The truth: alcohol temporarily shuts down fat burning (fat oxidation) → How routine drinking can worsen insulin sensitivity and fasting blood sugar → The hormone effect: lower testosterone + slower estrogen clearance → Why alcohol increases inflammation, soreness, and joint pain → Lab markers to watch: triglycerides, liver enzymes (AST/ALT/GGT), fasting glucose → A real patient story: stopping alcohol and reversing scary lab trends → The “earn your booze” framework: protecting the 5 levers of health Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website The Weaponized Body Program Weaponized Wellness HRT InstagramYouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Your Teen’s Phone Isn’t Neutral (It’s Rewiring Their Brain)
Jan 2300:26:45Tap to summarizeYour teen’s smartphone isn’t just “screen time.” It’s an engineered attention trap, built around notifications, novelty, dopamine rewards, and endless scrolling, hitting a developing brain at the exact stage where impulse control, emotional regulation, and attention are still being wired. In this episode of The Weaponized Body Podcast, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down why modern smartphone use is not a neutral tool for adolescents (and honestly… adults too). If you’ve noticed homework taking forever, rising anxiety, bedtime doom-scrolling, irritability when the phone is removed, or constant distraction from notifications, this conversation will hit home. We dig into how social media validation loops, variable rewards (the “pocket slot machine”), and constant interruptions fragment focus and increase stress, while also fueling sleep disruption, mood issues, and even physical problems like “text neck” and posture strain. Then we shift into practical solutions: simple boundaries, phone rules, sleep protection, and real-life dopamine habits that help your family use technology intelligently, without living like the Amish. What You’ll Learn: → Why adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to smartphone addiction and social media loops → How notifications fragment attention and reduce frustration tolerance → The “pocket slot machine” effect: variable rewards and compulsive checking → Warning signs your teen’s phone use has crossed into a behavioral loop → How doomscrolling disrupts sleep quality, hormones, and recovery → Physical impacts: text neck, posture strain, headaches, and wrist/hand issues → Real-world risks: distracted driving and notification reflexes → “Phone armor” rules: notification shutdown, phone windows, bedroom boundaries → Building real dopamine: sports, sunlight, hobbies, face-to-face friendships → Practical parenting strategies: private accounts, audits, dopamine fasts, DND driving Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website The Weaponized Body Program Weaponized wellness HRT InstagramYouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →