The Chad Franco Podcast

Chad Franco

Helping you understand how to meet yourself where you’re at and simplify your health and wellness journey. My goal with this podcast is to help simplify all of the conflicting and confusing information circulating the internet today. I’ve been on my own fitness and wellness journey since 1989 and am extremely passionate about helping others become their best selves through health and well-being.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 137: Body Composition: The Metric That Actually Predicts Your Future

    In this episode, we break down Pillar Five of the Vitality Nation framework — the difference between body weight and body composition, the biology of visceral versus subcutaneous fat, the lean mass equation and sarcopenia, age-appropriate body fat targets, Marcus's client story (lost 12 pounds and his composition got worse), the three most common mistakes, and a four-step body composition framework built around measurement, lean mass protection, modest deficits, and visceral fat reduction.

  2. Aug 12

    Episode 136: Nutrition: The System Most High Performers Are Missing

    This episode breaks down Pillar One of the Vitality Nation framework — the hormonal consequences of chronic restriction, the science of protein requirements after 35, food as biological information, chrono-nutrition and meal timing research, Tim's client story, the five most common nutritional mistakes among high performers, and the four-step nutrition framework that works when willpower does not.

  3. Jul 28

    Episode 135: Why Your Home Is Making You Sick w/Brian Johnson

    Today, I’m joined by Brian Johnson — Founder & CEO, SENERGY360 ("Healthy Build & Design") Today we are going to find out why your home is making you sick.  Most homes are built to code, not to keep you healthy — and the gap between those two things is affecting how people sleep, breathe, think, and age. In this episode, we dive deep into what actually makes a home healthy. Happy listening! You can find Brian's work here - Instagram Senergy360 website by clicking here

  4. Jul 14

    Episode 134: Where the standard health markers fall short with Nick Tognietti

    Why "normal" bloodwork doesn't mean you're healthy — and what the labs are actually missing. Join me with Nick Tognietti, The Founder Of Lifestyle of Eden and the 7 Pillars of disease reversal, prevention, and longevity. Most standard lab panels are built to catch disease, not to define what optimal health looks like. In this episode, we sit down with a leading functional health coach to break down the gap between "normal" and "optimal" — and why the number of Americans who are truly metabolically healthy is likely far lower than the headline statistics suggest. Why "normal" ≠ healthy — the difference between disease-detection thresholds and true optimal rangesBlood sugar isn't the full story — why fasting glucose alone can hide insulin resistanceFasting insulin — the test almost no one gets, and why it's one of the earliest warning signs of metabolic dysfunctionHOMA-IR — a simple calculation that can reveal insulin resistance even when glucose and insulin look "fine" individuallyTriglycerides and the TG:HDL ratio — an underused but powerful predictor of metabolic and cardiovascular riskThe cholesterol myth — why two people with identical LDL can have very different actual risk, and where ApoB fits inThe markers standard panels skip entirely — hs-CRP (inflammation), uric acid, and vitamin DHormones beyond TSH — why thyroid, sex hormone, and cortisol testing is often incompleteThe real number — what percentage of Americans are actually metabolically healthy once you apply a true functional standard"The system isn't measuring health — it's measuring the absence of a diagnosis." Vitality Score assessment - Get yours by clicking here Nick Tognietti - Contact Nick by clicking here

  5. Jul 7

    Episode 133: Daily Behaviors: The Twenty-Three Hours Nobody Is Talking About

    In this episode, I break down Pillar Eight of the Vitality Nation framework — Daily Behaviors — covering the active couch potato effect, the step count research, the biology of morning sunlight exposure and circadian entrainment, workout consistency as the primary training variable, the story of my client, Sarah, whose plateau was solved not by more training but by changing her daily behavioral environment, outdoor time and nature exposure research, and a four-block daily behavior blueprint. Resources Mentioned: Take your free Vitality Score → Click here Book a Clarity Call → Book here Key Research Referenced: Active couch potato effect (Biswas et al., 2015 — Annals of Internal Medicine) Prolonged sitting and all-cause mortality (independent of exercise) Step count and cardiovascular mortality dose-response research Circadian photoreception — suprachiasmatic nucleus and cortisol awakening response Attention restoration theory and natural environment exposure (Kaplan, 1995) Meta-analyses on green space and cortisol/blood pressure/sleep outcomes Resistance training frequency research (2-3x/week vs higher frequency)

  6. Jun 30

    Episode 132: Recovery and Sleep: The Most Overlooked Performance Lever You Have

    In this episode, I dive into Recovery and Sleep — covering the biology of sleep (testosterone, HGH, HRV, cortisol), my own story of unlearning sleep deprivation as a badge of honor, the five thieves of sleep quality, a four-step recovery protocol, and why the stakes of chronic under-recovery get significantly higher after 35. Leaving you with three actionable steps to implement today. Resources Mentioned: Take your free Vitality Score → click here Book a Clarity Call → click here Key Research Referenced: Testosterone reduction from sleep deprivation (Leproult & Van Cauter, 2011 — JAMA) HGH and slow-wave sleep architecture research HRV as autonomic nervous system recovery marker Alcohol and REM sleep suppression research Blue light and melatonin suppression (Harvard Medical School / circadian biology literature)

  7. Jun 23

    Episode 131: Your Environment Is Either Building You or Breaking You

    In this episode, I break down Pillar Nine of the Vitality Nation framework — Environment — covering indoor air quality, mold, toxic load from cleaning products and cookware, the biological impact of your social environment, and how your information diet is affecting your cortisol and nervous system. Resources Mentioned: Take your free Vitality Score → by clicking here Book a Clarity Call → by clicking here Key Research Referenced: EPA indoor air quality data (2–5x more polluted than outdoor air) Mycotoxin research in functional medicine literature PFAS / forever chemicals research (thyroid disease, immune dysfunction) Social isolation health risk equivalency (15 cigarettes/day) Blue light / melatonin suppression research Timestamps: 0:00 — Cold Open 2:00 — Intro 3:30 — Environment as a Health Pillar 8:30 — Your Home Environment (Air Quality, Mold, Light) 15:30 — Toxins in the Home (Cleaning Products, Plastics, Cookware, EMF) 22:30 — Your Social Environment 28:30 — Your Information Environment 33:30 — The Environment Audit (6 Questions) 38:30 — Close + Call to Action Connect with Chad: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachcfranco Website: https://vitalitynation.org/

  8. Jun 16

    Episode 130: Physical Capacity — The Metric That Determines Your Independence

    In this episode, I break down why physical capacity — not weight, not body fat percentage — is the metric that actually determines quality of life and independence as we age. I explain how muscle and strength are lost gradually starting around age 35, why this is one of the strongest predictors of independence in older adults, and introduce the Vitality Physical Assessment — five tests, scored out of 20 points, adjusted for age and gender, placing you into one of four categories: Limited, Functional, Strong, or Elite. Comment "CAPACITY" on this episode, or, any Vitality Nation Instagram post for free access to the Vitality Physical Assessment. Happy Listening!

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About

Helping you understand how to meet yourself where you’re at and simplify your health and wellness journey. My goal with this podcast is to help simplify all of the conflicting and confusing information circulating the internet today. I’ve been on my own fitness and wellness journey since 1989 and am extremely passionate about helping others become their best selves through health and well-being.

Information

  • Creator
    Chad Franco
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    138
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Chad Franco
  • Show Website
    The Chad Franco Podcast