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Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge
Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
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2947 episodes

  • Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

    2938: The Right (and Wrong) Reasons to Fast. Most People Are Doing It for the Wrong One

    04/09/2026 | 1h 20 mins.
    MAPS Abs and Butt: https://mapsabsandbutt.com
    Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes Butt Building Diet Guide, Women's Supplement Guide, at-home dumbbell version, and a free second program at checkout (Muscle Mommy or Muscle Mommy 15).
     
    In this episode the guys break down the right and wrong reasons to use fasting — not for body composition, not for anyone with a history of restricting, but specifically for spiritual purposes, breaking food attachment, gut health issues, autoimmune conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, and before or during chemotherapy. They also cover a detailed breakdown of grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef over one week and how the nutrient differences add up, Legion's pre-workout Pulse and the 350mg caffeine discussion, the happiness and money meta-study showing what the happiest high earners actually do with their money, Justin addressing the Arlo dog backlash from listeners and why the military dog trainer couldn't figure him out either, and how to separate cravings from real hunger. Then they answer questions from Instagram on whether pull-ups replace lat pulldowns, if you can take a break from high protein, healing injuries in a calorie deficit, and how to activate rear delts instead of traps.
     
    SPONSORS
     
    Legion (Pulse pre-workout): https://buylegion.com/mindpump
    Code: MINDPUMP — new customers buy one get one 50% off, returning customers get 20% cash back. 350mg caffeine, beta-alanine and more.
     
    Butcher Box: https://butcherbox.com/mindpump
    No code needed. Free ribeyes, NY strip steaks or filet mignons in every order for a year plus $20 off first box. Sal discusses the weekly grass-fed beef nutrient breakdown on air.
     
    Seed Daily Synbiotic: https://seed.com/mindpump
    Code: 25MINDPUMP for 25% off your first month.
     
    LINKS
     
    Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
    Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
    Instagram: @mindpumpmedia 
    0:00 - Intro
    2:30 - How to use fasting for the right reasons — and who should never do it
    4:51 - Reason 1: Spiritual purposes — the original and most powerful use of fasting
    7:42 - Reason 2: Breaking food attachment — learning the difference between cravings and real hunger
    10:54 - Reason 3: Gut health — why giving your digestive system a break has measurable effects
    13:33 - Reason 4: Autoimmune conditions — psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis have the most data
    18:12 - Reason 5: Before and during chemotherapy — how fasting mimicking diet improves cancer cell response
    24:14 - Grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef — the nutrient difference over one week adds up more than you think
    29:00 - The guys compare their Butcher Box orders and why they all live off ground beef
    34:41 - Legion Pulse pre-workout — 350mg caffeine, beta-alanine and the bathroom timing problem
    41:35 - The happiness and money meta-study — what the happiest high earners do differently
    52:53 - Justin addresses the Arlo dog listener backlash — the military dog trainer gave up
    1:02:37 - Sal on fasting before podcasts for mental sharpness
    1:08:49 - Q&A: If you only do pull-ups, are you missing anything by skipping lat pulldowns?
    1:14:23 - Q&A: Can you take a break from 1g of protein per pound of bodyweight?
    1:16:58 - Q&A: Can you rehab and heal from an injury in a calorie deficit?
    1:18:31 - Q&A: How to activate rear delts instead of traps
  • Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

    2937: The Best Workout Program To Grow Your Butt & Reveal Your Abs

    03/09/2026 | 24 mins.
    MAPS Abs & Butt: ⁠https://mapsabsandbutt.com⁠
     
    Abs and glutes. The two most requested body parts, the two most commonly undertrained. In this episode, Sal, Adam, and Justin break down the brand new MAPS Abs and Butt program and talk about WHY so many people fail to develop these areas, even when they're putting in the work. The answer isn't what most people think, and the guys are blunt about it.
     
    If you've been frustrated by a flat butt or abs that won't show no matter how hard you train, this is the episode that explains exactly why, and what to do about it.
     
    00:00 Intro
    00:22 MAPS Abs and Butt program intro and launch offer
    01:17 Sponsor: Crisp Power
    02:26 Why the hosts built this program
    03:22 Evolutionary roots of abs and glute appeal
    07:36 Why abs and glutes are so hard to develop
    08:41 Full body programming with targeted volume emphasis
    09:16 Cross-education science: why training the whole body helps target areas
    14:16 Mind-muscle connection and why phases run inverse
    15:51 Real example: ab exercises becoming hip flexor exercises
    17:49 Program structure: phases, sets, reps, and intensity
    19:57 Mistake 3: Not eating in a calorie surplus
    21:56 Bonus guides, launch offer details, and free programs
     
    Sponsors:
    Crisp Power: ⁠https://crisppower.com/mindpump⁠ (code: mind pump)
     
    Mentioned:
    Brett Contreras - Described as one of the best in the business regarding workout programming, referenced during the discussion about total body volume limits.
  • Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

    2936: If You Love Working Out, You Probably Need to Hear This

    02/09/2026 | 2h 9 mins.
    MAPS BOGO: https://mapsbogo.com
    Buy one get one free — mix and match any of the top 10 most popular programs (Anabolic, Aesthetic, Performance, 15 Minutes, Anywhere, Symmetry, Starter, Muscle Mommy, Powerlift, 40+).
     
    In this episode the guys break down 5 signs that fitness fanatics specifically need to eat more and move less — feeling chronically worn out, sacrificing more important things for workouts and diet, staying super lean all the time with no flexibility, not improving any objective performance metric in a long time, and workouts no longer being joyful. They also get into Adam's new solo cooking ritual using Our Place pans and why it turned from a chore into something he looks forward to, Corinne's update as a top Mind Pump trainer who has finally committed to adding muscle after years of staying chronically lean, Justin's incredible weekend experience at a multi-day program, Adam getting back together with Katrina after a rough week of stress and house prep, Justin's son Everett watching the Odyssey movie and losing his mind over it, and Sal having another ghost experience at home. Then they coach live callers submitted through mplivecaller.com.
     
    SPONSORS
     
    Our Place (cookware): https://fromourplace.com
    Code: MINDPUMP for 10% off sitewide. Forever chemical free, titanium nonstick, 100-day trial with free returns. Adam discusses using the Always Pan for his solo mushroom cooking sessions.
     
    Kion (essential amino acids): https://getkion.com/mindpump
    20% off automatically applied at checkout. High leucine EAA formula — clinically shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis between meals without extra calories or digestion load.
     
    Troscriptions: https://troscriptions.com/MINDPUMP
    Code: MINDPUMP for 10% off first order. Medical grade buccal supplements.
     
    LINKS
     
    Submit a live caller question: https://mplivecaller.com
    Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
    Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
    Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
     
    SPOTIFY TIMESTAMPS
     
    0:00 - Intro
    2:10 - 5 signs fitness fanatics need to eat more and move less
    3:51 - Sign 1: You are chronically worn out and never fully recovering
    9:28 - Sign 2: You sacrifice more important things for workouts and diet
    15:43 - Sign 3: You are super lean all the time with zero flexibility
    19:02 - Sign 4: You have not improved objective performance in a long time
    21:28 - Sign 5: Your workouts are no longer joyful — it is a grind
    23:59 - Adam's solo cooking ritual with Our Place pans — how a chore became something he loves
    28:29 - Corinne's update — top Mind Pump trainer finally committing to building muscle after years of staying too lean
    33:53 - Justin's incredible multi-day weekend program experience and the inflammation difference it made
    41:13 - Adam and Katrina's stressful week, house back on the market and getting back on the same page
    45:14 - Justin's son Everett watches the Odyssey and loses his mind — the hidden gem movie debate
    47:37 - Sal has another ghost experience at home
    1:05:45 - Caller: Paul (Ontario) — fitness fanatic, overtrained, needs to dial back and trust the process
    1:14:48 - Caller: Ryan (Ohio) — 36-year-old getting married in July, wants fat loss, needs a strength-first approach
    1:37:35 - Caller: Melissa (Nebraska) — 43-year-old returning to fitness, metabolism needs rebuilding, gets reverse diet strategy
    1:53:54 - Caller: Meredith (Texas) — long time listener, complex history, gets individualized programming advice
  • Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

    2935: Build A Brain That AI Can't Replace with Jim Kwik

    31/08/2026 | 1h 29 mins.
    Jim Kwik's New Book: https://limitlessdaily.com

    Products: MAPS BOGO Sale — https://mapsbogo.com.com
    Sponsors: LMNT — https://drinklmnt.com/mindpump

    AI can synthesize, process, and generate faster than any human alive. But here's what it cannot do: think for YOU. Jim Kwik is back on Mind Pump, and he makes the case that your natural human intelligence is more valuable right now than it has ever been, precisely because most people are handing it over without a fight. Cognitive offloading, digital distraction, identity collapse as careers get automated, the risks are real and they are compounding fast.

    Jim breaks down the concept of cognitive reserve, the mental retirement account you build through new learning, physical activity, and social connection, and why someone like Sister Mary could have the brain plaques of advanced Alzheimer's and still ace her cognitive tests at 101. He lays out his BUILD framework for using AI as a creative partner rather than a crutch, and explains why the quality of your prompts is a direct reflection of your own human intelligence.

    Chapters: 0:19 Introducing Jim Kwik and the episode hook 2:29 Is AI making us dumb? 4:17 The four horsemen of digital cognitive decline 5:52 Outsourcing activity vs. outsourcing thinking 6:48 How technology has always changed the brain 13:21 Cognitive reserve, the nun study, and Sister Mary 15:43 Cognitive flexibility vs. cognitive rigidity 18:51 Jim's BUILD framework for using AI without losing your mind 30:36 The HUMAN acronym: what AI cannot replace 58:50 Sleep inertia and attentional priming 1:01:26 Limitless Daily: the five-minute morning mind practice 1:05:11 Jim's daily structure: Create, Consume, Clear
  • Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

    2934: GLP-1 Drugs Are Killing People — Here Is What Nobody Is Telling You

    29/08/2026 | 1h 41 mins.
    MAPS BOGO: https://mapsbogo.com
    Buy one get one free — mix and match any of the top 10 most popular programs (Anabolic, Aesthetic, Performance, 15 Minutes, Anywhere, Symmetry, Starter, Muscle Mommy, Powerlift, 40+) for $157.
     
    In this episode the guys break down the dangers of GLP-1 drugs — covering who they are actually for, who they are not for, the real risks including muscle loss, bone density decline and gastroparesis, and the only right way to use them with resistance training and behavioral change. They also get into Sal's Collective shoes situation that led into an unexpected swinger conversation, the new federal income brackets and what it says about inflation, why owning a home is quietly becoming a luxury not a right, a massive 236-country demographic study showing global fertility has fallen below replacement rate for the first time in 60,000 years, why going to church is the biggest predictor of economic upward mobility, and the guys sharing their personal Caldera Lab favorites. Then they coach live callers submitted through mplivecaller.com.
     
    Mind Pump Fitness Coaching: https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.com
    1.9 NASM CEUs
     
    SPONSORS
     
    Caldera Lab (skincare): https://calderalab.com/mindpump
    Code: MINDPUMP20 for 20% off. Over 90% of trial participants reported reduced fine lines, wrinkles and healthier skin. All natural, works with your skin's microbiome.
     
    Zbiotics Pre-Alcohol: https://zbiotics.com/MINDPUMP26
    Code: MINDPUMP26 for 15% off first purchase (one-time or subscription). World's first genetically engineered probiotic that breaks down acetaldehyde in the gut before it causes next-day issues.
     
    Super Patch: https://mindpump.superpatch.com
    No code needed, use URL for $30 off. Patches for pain (Freedom), mobility (Liberty), sleep (REM), focus (Focus) and mood (Joy).
     
    LINKS
     
    Submit a live caller question: https://mplivecaller.com
    Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
    Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
    Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
     
    0:00 - Intro
    2:09 - GLP-1 drugs are killing people — and they're not the panacea everyone thinks
    5:17 - Who GLP-1 is actually for and who is using it wrong
    11:44 - The risks: muscle loss, bone density, gastroparesis and behavioral dependency
    16:14 - The only right way to use GLP-1 — resistance training, protein and behavior change
    27:58 - Sal's Collective shoes situation — and the unexpected swinger conversation
    37:24 - New federal income brackets and what they reveal about real inflation
    41:00 - Why owning a home is quietly becoming a luxury rather than a right
    48:10 - 236-country study: global fertility below replacement rate for the first time in 60,000 years
    51:18 - Church attendance as the single biggest predictor of economic upward mobility
    54:30 - The guys share their personal Caldera Lab favorites
    1:11:40 - Caller: Kennedy (Missouri) — returning caller, up from 1,600 to 2,800 calories, strength gains
    1:21:24 - Caller: RSI (Colorado) — 6-7 years lifting, approaching intermediate plateau, needs a program change
    1:29:48 - Caller: Autumn (Ohio) — no lower body strength progress in 2 years after a lean phase
    1:37:10 - Caller: Hunter (Utah) — training around a recurring injury, wants to stay consistent
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About Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
MindPump exposes the RAW TRUTH about health, fitness, nutrition and more... Hosts Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer & Justin Andrews pull back the curtain on the mythology, snake oil and pseudo-science that pervades the fitness industry and present science-backed solutions that result in increased muscular development and performance while simultaneously emphasizing health. No fitness institution or fitness "truth" is safe from their quick wit and over 40 years of combined experience in the fitness industry. Produced by Doug Egge. Find Mind Pump and the Mind Pump hosts on Instragram @mindpumpmedia, @mindpumpsal, @mindpumpadam, @mindpumpjustin & @mindpumpdoug and at mindpumppodcast.com. Get expertly programmed Mind Pump training protocols at mapsfitnessproducts.com
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