Barbell Shrugged - Talking Training W/ Crossfit Games Athletes, Strength Coaches & More

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged we cover: A framework for understanding mental health and physiology The relationship between the mind and the body How physiology follows psychology How to turn your thoughts into character traits How come prescriptions and medications can make mental health worse How sleep is the gateway to improving mental health Blood sugar management and how it affects mood Why broad solutions to improve mental health will not work Coaching the person before you coach their mental health issues Supplementation that positively affect mental health The process of creating and excreting dopamine and serotonin The impacts of B6 and Magnesium for mental health To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthoptimization.com Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram  

Dr. Justin Houman is a board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained Men’s Sexual and Reproductive Health specialist whose practice is focused on male fertility, erectile dysfunction, sexual performance, testosterone management, Peyronie’s Disease, vasectomy reversals, and vasectomies. As a minimally-invasive microscopic surgeon, he specializes in microsurgical varicocelectomies, vasectomy reversals, sperm retrievals, penile implants, Peyronie’s disease, and male incontinence. Dr. Houman’s practice is centered on enhancing men’s quality of life through hormone management, improving sexual function, and achieving reproductive goals. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Dr. Justin Houman Website Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged: Why adding water can help eliminate constipation Why “more fiber” may not be the answer to better bowels. Which magnesium supplement is optimal for reducing constipation. Why you need to buy a squatty potty for your best pooping position. How exercise improves motility. Why coffee and caffeine are important to morning movement The best natural stool bulkers Stool Softeners that you can get through your nutrition What are the best stool lubricants What are Osmotic Laxatives and how to add them to your nutrition Saline Laxatives for improved bowel function To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthoptimization.com/ Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram

Drew Manning is The NY Times Best Selling Author of the book, Fit2Fat2Fit, and creator of the hit TV show, Fit To Fat To Fit on A&E. He’s been featured on many TV shows such as Dr. Oz, The Tonight Show, CNN, The View, GMA and many more. With over 1 million social media followers, Drew continues on his mission to reshape the fitness industry with an empathy first approach helping people with not only their physical health, but also their mental health. Drew is also a certified breath work practitioner and resides in Hawai’i with his two teenage daughters and is currently enrolled in a Master’s program in psychology. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged: The Thyroid’s impact on weight gain What is the function of the thyroid What causes thyroid dysfunction The relationship between hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and thyroid Thyroids role in autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s and Grave’s disease How gut health affects the thyroid How Vitamin A regulates the thyroid Parathyroid and thyroid connection How birth control can affect thyroid function Thyroid’s role in impacting brain chemistry The thyroid’s role in your menstrual cycle To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthoptimization.com Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram  

Chris Hoppe has spent nearly two decades immersed in the world of coaching — from CrossFit and personal training to recovery support, breathwork, and behavioral health. His approach blends performance and presence, helping clients not just optimize their bodies, but reconnect to their lives in a deeper, more meaningful way. Chris has guided people at every stage of transformation — from their first day sober to the CrossFit Games floor. Whether he's working with entrepreneurs, athletes, or those navigating major life transitions, his work centers on building nervous system resilience, emotional awareness, and personal agency. More than a coach, Chris lives his practice. He brings curiosity, groundedness, and heart into every conversation — and creates space for people to be fully human. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Work with Chris Hoppe Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged you will learn: The internal mechanisms that create your sex drive. How psychological, hormonal, and functional dysfunction impacts sex drive. The biochemistry of boners The nervous system’s response to sexual arousal The psychology of porn addiction Supplementation that can improve your sex drive Impacts of chronic fatigue on sex drive How estrogen and testosterone influence sex drive Hormonal changes during pregnancy that heighten sex drive How aging affects your libido They affect of marijuana and alcohol on sex drive Hair loss medication and erectile dysfunction symptoms To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthoptimization.com Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram

Garrett Butler, MD. Husband, father, son, friend, and family doc in rural WV. Undergraduate in Physics from Johns Hopkins University. Undergraduate in Molecular and Cell Biology from Towson University. MD from West Virginia University School of Medicine. Family Medicine residency at WVU SOM. Hospitalist at Vandalia Health Davis Medical Center. Outpatient family physician at Vandalia Health Broaddus Family Care. Hospitalist at Vandalia Health Broaddus Hospital. Medical director of Mansfield Place nursing home. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Dr. Garrett Butler - Old Fellow Manor Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged you will learn: How to determine total calories for your goals Why maintenance calories are important for body composition and health Why calories determine the size of your body Understanding energy balance and finding your activity multiplier How to properly increase and decrease your caloric intake to reach your goals Macronutrient breakdown for aesthetics and performance goals Why macros determine body composition How to find the right amount of protein for your goals Why micronutrients are so easily overlooked and what you are missing How to get all your vitamins and minerals even if you hate vegetables To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthoptimization.com Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram

Dr. Mike T. Nelson has spent 18 years of his life learning how the human body works, specifically focusing on how to properly condition it to burn fat and become stronger, more flexible, and healthier. He’s been called in to share his techniques with top government agencies, universities and colleges, fitness organizations and fanatics. The techniques he’s developed, and the results Mike gets for his clients have been featured in international magazines, in scientific publications, and on websites across the globe. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Cardio for Meatheads Course Dr. Nelson Website Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

Mark Sisson, widely regarded as the forefather of the Primal/Paleo lifestyle movement, is an innovator and trendsetter in the health and fitness world. He has written several best-selling books and a number-one-ranked blog promoting ancestral living. Mark founded Primal Kitchen foods to introduce healthful options for condiments and sauces to the marketplace for the first time. The brand grew quickly, was acquired by the Kraft-Heinz corporation in 2018, and today is a dominant player in the "better for you" food revolution. As a lifelong athlete and former elite level marathoner and ironman triathlete, Mark has long been obsessed with optimizing foot functionality and minimizing the chronic pain, injury, and dysfunction caused by traditional athletic and active lifestyle footwear. Mark was one of the earliest proponents of barefoot-inspired living and the minimalist shoe movement. Alas, despite owning dozens of pairs of minimalist shoes, his frustration grew at the industry’s inability to produce a functional

Founder, Altitude Performance & Measured Motion Former two‑sport collegiate athlete turned board‑certified orthopedic specialist, Dr. Goldstein blends lab‑grade muscle science with hands‑on care. After earning his DPT from the University of Colorado and completing both an orthopedic residency and fellowship, he launched Altitude Performance, a concierge practice devoted to sport‑specific rehab and performance optimization. His newest venture, Measured Motion, pushes the field forward by studying muscle architecture, pennation angles, fascicle length, and refining intramuscular dry‑needling techniques. As Senior Advisor for Performance & Development at Springbok Analytics, Doug converts 3‑D muscle‑health data into actionable plans for clients across all ages and abilities. He also shapes the next generation of clinicians as affiliate faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s PT program and mentor to orthopedic fellows. Trusted by athletes across the PGA, LPGA, USWNT, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS

In this Episode of Barbell Shrugged: What is inflammation why does your body have it How inflammation can improve performance The difference between Good and Bad inflammation Proper ways to reduce inflammation What is Chronic vs. Acute Inflammation Work with RAPID Health Optimization Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram

Swanwick has worked as a print, TV and radio journalist. He began his career in 1993 as a reporter at The Courier-Mail in Brisbane, Australia. In 1996, Swanwick won the Queensland Media Award for his interview and exposé on Pauline Hanson, one of Australia’s most publicized and controversial political figures. Swanwick moved to London in 1999 where he reported for Sky Sports. In 2003, he moved to Los Angeles where he became a Hollywood entertainment correspondent, writing for newspapers and magazines throughout Australia and Britain. In 2010, he began working as a host for ESPN SportsCenter. Swanwick hosts podcast Alcohol Free Lifestyle, focused on "health, wealth, love and happiness.” He co-founded international media agency, Sports Entertainment Network, which he started with Craig Hutchison in Melbourne, Australia. In 2015, Swanwick co-founded Swanwick Sleep, with brother Tristan, and founded the Alcohol Freedom Formula, which produces programs including 30 Day No Alcohol Challenge and Project 90 to help p

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged you will learn: What are lipids What is cholesterol The difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol Why there is no such thing as “good” or “bad” cholesterol What are the bloodwork numbers for optimal cholesterol What is the perfect ratio of HDL and LDL Ratios for Triglycerides to HDL for optimal health Mechanisms for regulating cholesterol in the liver Why saturated fats are not bad and how your body uses them Cholesterols role in testosterone production To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthoptimization.com Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram

Javier Pineda, endurance coach at RAPID Health Optimization and founder of Endurance Cartel, empowers athletes and professionals to master strength and stamina. With ten Ironman triathlons and two Ironman 70.3 races under his belt, he’s a CHEK Practitioner with top-tier certifications and insights from various mentors across his career. At DBC Fitness in Miami, he’s trained pros, executives, and competitors to hit peak performance. His focused coaching targets endurance-strength integration, precision movement, optimization, recovery, and custom training—driving sustainable, high-impact results. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Javier Pineda on Instagram Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

Mike Lane is a professor at eastern Kentucky university teaching in the parks, recreation, exercise, and sports science on the graduate and undergraduate level. His phd is in exercise physiology with an emphasis in muscle physiology. Currently he works with a variety of sports and tactical athletes and performs research tracking those athletes and their performance over time. Work with RAPID Health Optimization Links: Dr. Mike Lane on LinkedIn Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram

Joel Jamieson is widely considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on strength and conditioning for combat sports, having trained many of the sports best athletes since 2004. He is the author of the bestselling book Ultimate MMA Conditioning and is a contributing writer to several top magazines and a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars all over the world. Joel has worked with and consulted extensively for teams and organizations ranging from Navy SEALS to Life Time Fitness and his BioForce HRV system is used by teams in the NFL, NBA, MLS, NCAA, and more. He is best known for an individualized approach that is both based on solid science and yet practical to apply. Joel created 8WeeksOut in 2009 to help clear up the misinformation and confusion surrounding energy systems. Since then, the site has become one of the authorities on strength, conditioning, and performance. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Joel Jamieson - 8weeksout.com Anders Varner on Instagram Doug La

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged you will learn: How to define resilience Understanding psychology vs physiological resilience What are the biomarkers of resilience Cortisol wakening response and how it relates to stress response Is balance possible between stress and recovery How much stress can you body handle before physiology begins to break down How resilience builds confidence in getting through hard times How purpose can be the driver of resilience Where resilience will show up in your labs How to differentiate between recovery and resilience To learn more, please go to https://rapidhealthperformance.com Connect with our guests: Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram Dan Garner on Instagram

Shane Farmer is the founder of Dark Horse Rowing. He’s a rower, a 4X CrossFit Games athlete, former gym owner, Concept2 Master Instructor and has made his career de-mystifying rowing for non-rowers. He’s married with two kids and has 13 chickens and an orchard. He loves soil regeneration, permaculture, and testing himself regularly at new and interesting forms of fitness. Work With Us: Arétē by RAPID Health Optimization Links: Dark Horse Rowing Shane Farmer on Youtube Anders Varner on Instagram Doug Larson on Instagram Coach Travis Mash on Instagram