The Strong New York Podcast

Being STRONG is more than just how much weight you can lift. The Strong New York Podcast is dedicated to inspiring you to become your strongest self- in the gym, in business, in relationships and in life. Join Kenny as he sits down with his strong as f**k buddies and shoots the shit on what it takes to be strong willed, strong minded and physically strong. Season one features everyone from entrepreneurs and local business owners to doctors and industry leaders in the fitness and wellness space. With over a decade of experience, Kenny Santucci has made himself known as one of New York City’s top trainers and a thought leader in the health and wellness industry. After transforming his life at 15 years old through fitness, Kenny made it his mission to transform the lives of those around him. Kenny has trained some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jon Bon Jovi, Liev Schreiber, and Frank Ocean, and has been tapped as a fitness expert sharing his training approach with Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Runner's World, SHAPE, Well+Good, among other publications. Kenny is the creator of STRONG New York, NYC's only Health and Fitness Expo. Strong New York is an immersive day of workouts, wellness experiences, panel discussions, and inspiring conversations with the best in-class wellness professionals, industry leaders, and change makers who are sharing their expertise on today's hottest wellness trends and first-hand experiences on how to optimize your overall health and life. You can find Kenny at The Strength Club, his private training and group strength training facility in the heart of Manhattan located on 28th and 5th Ave in New York City.

  1. 4d ago

    Attachment Expert, Chris Davids on Why You Want Love but Can't Trust it

    Kenny Santucci sits down with Chris Davids (@EvolvedByChris) — a former physician turned attachment coach who dated 300+ women after his divorce and grew his following from 0 to 300K in six months by telling the truth about relationships. They break down the anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment styles running most people's dating lives, why men and women process stress and "peace" completely differently, why chasing dopamine early kills relationships, and what women actually want from a man (hint: it's not his bank account). In this episode: The 3 attachment styles that predict how someone datesWhy "honesty" in dating isn't about looks or moneyDopamine vs. oxytocin — why the honeymoon phase always endsWhy smart people still make terrible relationship decisionsWhat women actually want from a manConnect with Chris Davids Instagram: @evolvedbychris Connect with Kenny and Strong New York: Instagram: @kennysantucciInstagram: @strongnewyork Follow the Strong New York Podcast: Instagram: @strongnewyorkpod 0:00 Intro0:58 Why Dating Is Harder Than Ever8:25 Chris’s Journey Into Relationship Coaching11:50 Attachment Styles Explained: Anxious, Avoidant and Disorganized18:58 Does Childhood Cause Avoidant Attachment?24:41 Why You Cannot Love Someone Out of Avoidance27:36 Avoidant Attachment vs. Narcissism32:59 The Best First-Date Advice37:19 How to Choose the Right Partner41:21 Dopamine, the Honeymoon Phase and Why Feelings Fade43:16 Friendship, Sacrifice and Compromise in Relationships50:00 Why Smart People Make Bad Relationship Decisions56:32 Why Relationships Should Be Run Like a Business57:59 What Women Actually Want From Men62:16 These are the Only Qualities Women Look for This episode is sponsored by:🔥 Celsius — the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Follow @celsiusofficial on Instagram for all the new flavors.🩸 Marek Health — optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance at marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY for 10% off Diagnostics, Supplements, and Guided Optimization.🤝 Founders Club — a trusted circle of 2,500+ builders across North America who share resources, open doors, and raise the bar for entrepreneurship. Learn more at FoundersClubOfficial.com. #attachmentstyles #attachment #strongnewyork

  2. Aug 26

    Ben Greenfield Reveals The Dark Side of Biohacking That Almost Ruined His Life

    Ben Greenfield built his life around mastering the human body, biohacking and optimizing performance with some of the most extreme methods possible.  But behind the image of success, everything was beginning to fall apart. After nearly losing his marriage and family, one of the world’s leading biohackers was forced to confront a question no protocol could answer: What is optimization worth if it costs you everything that matters? Today, Kenny Santucci and Ben Greenfield discuss: - Extreme biohacks involving blood filtration, gene therapy and stem cells- The dangerous “shortcut mentality” taking over the biohacking industry- The three biohacks Ben believes can transform your health- How Biohacking almost ruined Ben Greenfields life 0:00 Intro1:34 Ben Greenfield’s Biohacking Journey6:44 Self-Preservation vs. Generational Legacy8:24 Ben’s Daily Routine for Family and Faith10:10 God, Spouse, Kids, Health and Business11:51 What Ben Sacrificed to Change His Life16:34 How Much Money Is Enough?20:15 Faith, Infidelity and Almost Losing His Family26:30 Why Success and Validation Become Addictive28:22 Why Young Men Need a Rite of Passage33:17 Ben Greenfield’s Parenting Philosophy39:29 Fitness, Sleep and Nutrition Ranked42:56 The Problem With GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs44:43 Ben Greenfield's Three Most Important Biohacks50:01 The Biohacking “Shortcut Industry”51:24 How to Avoid 'Overhacking' Your Body53:53 What Biohacking Actually Means57:19 Biohacking Products That Don’t Work63:44 Why Optimization Leaves People Unfulfilled66:35 What’s Next for Ben Greenfield?68:08 The Boundless Documentary For more raw, unfiltered and strong conversations, subscribe to Strong New York to never miss an upload. Follow us on Spotify for exclusive content:https://open.spotify.com/show/7aZJACuPsaawNIbWTHUkBp?si=bbc2dde469e44982 Connect with Ben GreenfieldInstagram: @bengreenfieldfitness Connect with Kenny and Strong New York: Instagram: @kennysantucciInstagram: @strongnewyork Follow the Strong New York Podcast: Instagram: @strongnewyorkpod This episode is sponsored by:🔥 Celsius — the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Follow @celsiusofficial on Instagram for all the new flavors.🩸 Marek Health — optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance at marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY for 10% off Diagnostics, Supplements, and Guided Optimization.🤝 Founders Club — a trusted circle of 2,500+ builders across North America who share resources, open doors, and raise the bar for entrepreneurship. Learn more at FoundersClubOfficial.com. #biohacking #biohacks #bengreenfield

  3. Aug 19

    Former UFC World Champion: How I’m Using Ketones to Treat Brain Trauma

    Matt Hughes is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He is a UFC Hall of Famer, two-time UFC welterweight champion and the first man to defeat Georges St-Pierre inside the Octagon. After a near-fatal accident in 2017, Matt was left with a traumatic brain injury, but he's been rebuilding ever since. That’s where Clifford Morgan and Kenetik come in.  Kenetik is a sugar-free, caffeine-free ketone drink designed to provide an alternative source of fuel for the body and brain. In this episode of the Strong New York Podcast we cover: - What happened to Matt Hughes After Fighting - What Are Ketones- How ketones may support energy, focus and brain health- Why doctors told Matt his recovery had reached its limit- How Matt Hughes Became a UFC World Champion For more raw, unfiltered and strong conversations, subscribe to Strong New York to never miss an upload. Follow us on Spotify for exclusive content:https://open.spotify.com/show/7aZJACuPsaawNIbWTHUkBp?si=bbc2dde469e44982 Connect with MattInstagram: @matthughes9x Connect with Cliff:Instagram: @cliffgammaceo Connect with Kenny and Strong New York: Instagram: @kennysantucciInstagram: @strongnewyork Follow the Strong New York Podcast: Instagram: @strongnewyorkpod This episode is sponsored by:🔥 Celsius — the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Follow @celsiusofficial on Instagram for all the new flavors.🩸 Marek Health — optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance at marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY for 10% off Diagnostics, Supplements, and Guided Optimization.🤝 Founders Club — a trusted circle of 2,500+ builders across North America who share resources, open doors, and raise the bar for entrepreneurship. Learn more at FoundersClubOfficial.com. #matthughes #ketones #brainhealth

  4. Aug 12

    UFC Championship Coach: Why Leaving Fighting is so Hard, Making Elite Fighters and MORE (Phil Daru)

    Phil Daru has trained some of the biggest names in combat sports — Dustin Poirier, Amanda Nunes, and countless UFC and ONE Championship fighters — and built one of the most respected performance training brands in the game.  In this episode, Kenny sits down with Phil to talk about the concussion that ended his pro fighting career, the framework he built at American Top Team that shaped how he coaches today, and how he's now applying those same principles to busy executives and entrepreneurs through his partnership with Marek Health. We get into readiness tracking and auto-regulation, why wrestling is the real foundation of great fighters, his Mount Rushmore of trainers, his brief stint in bodybuilding and powerlifting, and what he's building next — a certification course, a new HQ facility, a book, and a returning podcast. #PhilDaru #StrongNewYork #MMA #UFC #StrengthAndConditioning CONNECT:  Follow Kenny: @kennysantucciFollow the Strong New York Podcast: @strongnewyorkpodFollow Phil Daru:  @darustrong This episode is sponsored by:🔥 Celsius — the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Follow @celsiusofficial on Instagram for all the new flavors.🩸 Marek Health — optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance at marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY for 10% off Diagnostics, Supplements, and Guided Optimization.🤝 Founders Club — a trusted circle of 2,500+ builders across North America who share resources, open doors, and raise the bar for entrepreneurship. Learn more at FoundersClubOfficial.com. 00:00 – Intro: Welcome Phil Daru01:30 – What makes Phil stand out after 20 years in the industry04:15 – The 2-hour intake: understanding a client's true "why"07:40 – Training fighters vs. training executives10:20 – Readiness tracking: RPE, HRV, and the green/yellow/red system13:00 – The concussion that ended his fighting career16:45 – Opening his first gym at 22 while still fighting pro20:10 – Scaling from an 800 sq ft gym to 11,000 sq ft23:00 – Phil's Mount Rushmore of trainers28:15 – Learning the conjugate method from Louie Simmons32:00 – Making pro debut at 155 and the brutal weight cuts36:30 – The final concussion and the decision to walk away40:00 – Chasing the competitive itch: bodybuilding, Strongman, powerlifting46:00 – Top 3 things every trainer needs to know50:30 – Why wrestling is the real foundation of elite fighters54:00 – Blocking out the noise: what separates elite fighters mentally58:00 – Building Marek Health's performance division1:02:00 – What's next: certification course, new HQ, book, and podcast1:06:00 – Where to find Phil Daru

  5. Aug 5

    This Mindset Shift Separates The 1% from Everyone Else | Giovanni Vaccaro

    On this episode of the Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci sits down with Giovanni Vaccaro — co-founder of Glamsquad, an on-demand beauty service platform and founder of Peak Mode Coaching, his high-performance coaching business for executives, founders, and entrepreneurs. Strength isn't just something you build in the gym — it's a mindset. Giovanni breaks down his journey from shampooing hair 25-30 times a day at a top Manhattan salon to building a beauty-tech company from the ground up, and the mental toughness, discipline, and "radical responsibility" that took him from stylist to CEO to executive coach. This one is packed with lessons on staying strong through setbacks, building unshakable habits, and why nobody is coming to save you. In this episode:- Growing up in an immigrant Italian family and the blue-collar work ethic that shaped him- Paying his dues: 2.5 years shampooing hair before ever touching scissors- The "light bulb" moment that led to founding Glamsquad- Building the mental strength to shift his identity from "hairstylist" to "entrepreneur"- Why imposter syndrome is actually a sign of strength, not weakness- Hiring for your weaknesses and killing the "self-made" myth- Glamsquad's near-collapse during COVID — and the strength it took to rebuild- His non-negotiable 5am routine: meditation, prayer, gratitude, training- Training for his first marathon and the obsession behind elite performance- The 3 things every strong, high performer has in common- "No one's coming to save you" — radical responsibility and ditching the victim mindset- Why he started Peak Mode Coaching and how identity-first coaching builds mental strength Chapters:0:00 – Intro: Radical responsibility & don't play the victim2:10 – Welcome Giovanni Vaccaro + Strong New York 10th Anniversary4:00 – Growing up Italian, working for his father, discovering the salon world8:15 – Telling his dad he wanted to be a hairdresser10:00 – Starting at the bottom: 2.5 years to become a stylist14:30 – Building a client book & why every person is an opportunity18:00 – The Glamsquad "light bulb" moment22:00 – Shifting identity from stylist to entrepreneur25:30 – Imposter syndrome as a sign you're playing a bigger game28:00 – The power of a great business partner32:00 – Hiring for your weaknesses, not your ego36:00 – Launching Glamsquad & the slow build to viral growth41:00 – What makes a great Glamsquad pro (and the hiring process)45:00 – Money vs. purpose: what really drives high performers50:00 – His 5am routine: meditation, prayer, gratitude, cold plunge55:00 – Training for his first marathon & building mental strength59:00 – The 3 non-negotiables of every strong, high performer1:03:00 – "No one's coming to save you" — radical ownership1:08:00 – Losing weight at 13 and the discipline that followed1:14:00 – Glamsquads' worst year (COVID) and the rebuild1:18:00 – Why he started Peak Mode Coaching1:23:00 – Identity-first coaching & closing thoughts CONNECT:  Follow Kenny: @kennysantucciFollow the Strong New York Podcast: @strongnewyorkpodFollow Giovanni Vaccaro:  @giovannivaccaro #GlamSquad #EntrepreneurMindset #Selfimprovement  This episode is sponsored by:🔥 Celsius — the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Follow @celsiusofficial on Instagram for all the new flavors.🩸 Marek Health — optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance at marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY for 10% off Diagnostics, Supplements, and Guided Optimization.🤝 Founders Club — a trusted circle of 2,500+ builders across North America who share resources, open doors, and raise the bar for entrepreneurship. Learn more at FoundersClubOfficial.com.

  6. Jul 1

    Can Caffeine & Nicotine Actually Make You Smarter? with Dr. David Putrino

    Most people have been told caffeine and nicotine are bad for you — but what does the science actually say? This week, host Kenny Santucci sits down with Dr. David Putrino, neuroscientist and Director of Rehab Innovation at Mount Sinai, to break down the truth behind nootropics, brain optimization, and the substances that could sharpen your focus and performance. Dr. Putrino shares what it's really like to work at the intersection of elite athletic performance and clinical rehabilitation — and why the strategies used to train special forces operators and professional athletes aren't that different from what helps stroke patients recover. Plus, they dive deep into one of the most important and undertalked health crises happening right now: long COVID and its devastating effects on cognition and energy. In this episode: Why caffeine and nicotine have been unfairly demonized — and what the research actually showsThe truth about nootropics and how to build your own cognitive "stack"How elite athlete training and stroke rehab are more similar than you thinkLong COVID and the brain: why millions of Americans are still struggling with brain fog and fatigueThe supplements and treatments Dr. Petrino uses with his 4,000+ long COVID patientsCreatine, lion's mane, L-theanine, nicotine patches, and more — what works and for whomThe future of personalized nootropics based on your DNACONNECT:  Follow Kenny: @kennysantucciFollow Strong New York: @strongnewyorkFollow David: @putrino_lab This episode is sponsored by Celsius, the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Visit @celsiusofficial on Instagram to see all of their new flavors! This episode is sponsored by Marek Health. Optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance. by visiting marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY at checkout for 10% Marek Diagnostics, Supplements and the Marek Health Guided Optimization signup.

  7. Jun 24

    Running 4,600 Miles Across the Sahara, 18 Months in Federal Prison & 33 Years Sober with Charlie Engle

    What does it take to run across the Sahara Desert, survive federal prison, maintain 33 years of sobriety — and come home to be a full-time caretaker for the person you love? Charlie Engle has lived all of it. In this episode, Kenny sits down with ultramarathon legend, New York Times bestselling author, and charity: water ambassador Charlie Engle for one of the most raw, real, and inspiring conversations we've ever had on the show. In this episode: Why being a caretaker for his wife for 10+ years has been harder than any race or prison sentenceHow running 4,600 miles across the Sahara Desert changed his relationship with sufferingThe truth about what federal prison is actually like — and why the system isn't built to rehabilitate anyoneHow 33 years of sobriety shaped his identity, discipline, and driveHis upcoming charity: water expedition and why he keeps chasing the next impossible goalThe mindset shift that took him from always asking "what's next?" to learning to live in the present momentWhy owning your narrative is everything — and what happens when you let others tell your storyCharlie's story isn't just about physical endurance. It's about what it means to keep moving forward when life strips everything away — and why the only compass that matters is the one inside you. CONNECT:Follow Charlie:  @charlieengleFollow Kenny: @kennysantucciFollow Strong New York: @strongnewyork This episode is sponsored by Celsius, the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Visit @celsiusofficial on Instagram to see all of their new flavors! This episode is sponsored by Marek Health. Optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance. by visiting marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY at checkout for  10% Marek Diagnostics, Supplements and the Marek Health Guided Optimization signup.

About

Being STRONG is more than just how much weight you can lift. The Strong New York Podcast is dedicated to inspiring you to become your strongest self- in the gym, in business, in relationships and in life. Join Kenny as he sits down with his strong as f**k buddies and shoots the shit on what it takes to be strong willed, strong minded and physically strong. Season one features everyone from entrepreneurs and local business owners to doctors and industry leaders in the fitness and wellness space. With over a decade of experience, Kenny Santucci has made himself known as one of New York City’s top trainers and a thought leader in the health and wellness industry. After transforming his life at 15 years old through fitness, Kenny made it his mission to transform the lives of those around him. Kenny has trained some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jon Bon Jovi, Liev Schreiber, and Frank Ocean, and has been tapped as a fitness expert sharing his training approach with Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Runner's World, SHAPE, Well+Good, among other publications. Kenny is the creator of STRONG New York, NYC's only Health and Fitness Expo. Strong New York is an immersive day of workouts, wellness experiences, panel discussions, and inspiring conversations with the best in-class wellness professionals, industry leaders, and change makers who are sharing their expertise on today's hottest wellness trends and first-hand experiences on how to optimize your overall health and life. You can find Kenny at The Strength Club, his private training and group strength training facility in the heart of Manhattan located on 28th and 5th Ave in New York City.

More From Operation Podcast

You Might Also Like