UNCONDITIONAL

Norbie Schickel
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Unconditional with Norbie Schickel is a podcast in which we explore what it takes to reclaim radical health and fitness, build an unstoppable mindset, and create your most unlimited, unconditional life. Join each week as we go in-depth on topics related to optimizing mental health, physical performance and lifestyle design. Norbie Schickel is a father and a founder of Anthem Athletics - a fighting and training gear brand. With a lifelong interest in health, functional fitness, and real food nutrition, he started Unconditional to share his journey and passion for these topics with the world.

  1. How Ultra-Processed Foods Took Over The World - Comments & Case Study | Ep 29

    11 HR AGO

    How Ultra-Processed Foods Took Over The World - Comments & Case Study | Ep 29

    Ultra-processed foods now make up 55% of the daily calories for the average American. How did this happen and should we be concerned? In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we explore how ultra-processed foods took over the modern diet, why they became so popular, and what their rise may have cost us in terms of obesity, metabolic health, hormones, diabetes, and human vitality. We look at the convenience, taste, low cost, shelf stability, and marketing power that made ultra-processed foods nearly impossible to avoid. We also examine the bigger question: is the modern health crisis really just about calories, willpower, and exercise—or has the food itself fundamentally changed? This episode covers the rise of ultra-processed foods, the NOVA food classification system, Brazil’s role in defining UPFs, Kevin Hall’s groundbreaking research, Dr. Weston A. Price’s work on traditional diets, Nestlé’s floating supermarket in the Amazon, and the global shift away from whole, minimally processed foods. If you care about real food, weight loss, metabolic health, nutrition science, obesity, fitness, hormones, or seek answers to the following questions: 1. What are ultra-processed foods? 2. Are ultra-processed foods unhealthy? 3. Do ultra-processed foods cause weight gain? This episode is for you.  Subscribe for more conversations on health, fitness, real food, and building an unconditional life. #UltraProcessedFoods #ProcessedFood #MetabolicHealth #FitnessPodcast #HealthPodcast Resources Discussed https://a.co/d/04pDdnA8 https://a.co/d/0bQUaXpj https://youtu.be/bqc8AgO9L5c?si=pVhHkRRnXgQ--SoJ https://youtu.be/CH-vQ2t-y2o?si=lBhfAg9Rrdjuk72e https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131%2825%2900360-2?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131%2825%2900360-2?utm_source=chatgpt.com

    31 min
  2. What Everyone Gets Wrong About Dr. Weston A Price (Including His Fans) | Ep 28

    17 APR

    What Everyone Gets Wrong About Dr. Weston A Price (Including His Fans) | Ep 28

    Dr. Weston A Price's Nutrition & Physical Degeneration is the most important book ever written on human health and nutrition. Full stop.  But how many of the foods and ideas commonly associated with Dr. Price  actually appear in the book or in the traditional populations he studied? The answer may surprise you.  Whether you love Price's work, hate it, or have never heard the name... this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel is for you.  00:00 What Everyone Gets Wrong About Weston A Price 05:57 Unique Time, Unique Place & Unique Person 08:53 The War With Iran 10:34 Many Foods Commonly Associated With Dr. Weston A Price Are Wrong 19:55 Intervention Diet Was Not Designed To Be Optimal 29:10 Dr. Weston A Price Would Have Been Pescatarian  33:50 Weston A Price Did NOT Debunk Plant Based Diets 39:08 Dr. Weston A Price - Alcohol, Prohibition & the 1930s Link Discussed Dr. Weston A Price - Part 1 | Apple | Spotify  Dr. Weston A Price - Part 2 | Apple | Spotify #ancestraldiet #ancestralnutrition #westonprice #realfoods

    44 min
  3. Science Says Working Out Won't Help You Lose Weight | The Energy Paradox | Ep 27

    2 APR

    Science Says Working Out Won't Help You Lose Weight | The Energy Paradox | Ep 27

    Who burns more calories in a day: a sedentary office worker in an average American city, or a highly active African hunter-gatherer who walks 7 miles a day foraging and tracking game? The answer seems obvious, but science tells a completely different—and shocking—story. Welcome back to another mind-blowing episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel. This week, we are diving deep into the fascinating phenomenon known as The Exercise Paradox. When researchers compared the daily energy expenditure of these two vastly different groups, they found that they consumed and burned almost exactly the same amount of calories. But what does this mean for you? If exercise doesn't significantly increase our daily calorie burn, is it actually useless for weight loss? Have our fundamental beliefs about metabolism, fitness, and calories been completely turned upside down? In this episode, we explore: The Hunter-Gatherer vs. Office Worker Study: Breaking down the shocking scientific observations that defy common sense.The Truth About Calorie Burn: Why highly active lifestyles don't necessarily equate to higher daily energy expenditure.Exercise and Weight Loss: Unpacking the claim that working out builds muscle and reduces stress, but might not actually help you lose weight.The Consumption Equation: Are our issues with weight management primarily on the consumption side rather than the exercise side?Rethinking Calories: Why we may need to question our most basic ideas regarding human metabolism and energy.Whether you are a fitness enthusiast, someone trying to lose weight, or just curious about human biology, this episode will completely change the way you look at your next workout. Listen now to uncover the truth behind the Exercise Paradox. Links To Sources Discussed The Energy Paradox - Scientific American  Hunter-Gatherer Energetics and Human Obesity  Keywords  Exercise paradox, calorie burn, weight loss myths, metabolism, hunter-gatherer vs sedentary, does exercise burn calories, fitness science, energy expenditure, Unconditional Podcast, Norbie Schickel, health and wellness.

    40 min
  4. Ultra-Processed Foods: The Study That Changed Everything (And What It Missed) | Ep 26

    26 MAR

    Ultra-Processed Foods: The Study That Changed Everything (And What It Missed) | Ep 26

    The average American gets over 55% of their calories from ultra-processed foods… and for years, many have suspected this plays a major role in weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. But here’s the shocking part… The first randomized controlled trial to actually test this didn’t happen until 2019. Led by top NIH researcher Kevin Hall, the study compared ultra-processed vs. unprocessed diets—matched for calories, protein, fat, sugar, and fiber. Same macros. Same calories. And yet… Participants gained weight on the ultra-processed diet …and lost weight on the unprocessed diet So what’s really going on? In this episode, we break down:  What the study actually proves (and what it doesn’t)  Why participants eating ultra-processed foods consumed ~500 more calories per day  The overlooked role of hunger hormones like ghrelin and PYY  Why this study doesn’t fully settle the “calories in vs. calories out” debate  And the one insight almost no one is talking about We also explore the real-world implications—cost, convenience, and why ultra-processed foods dominate modern diets. If you care about fat loss, metabolic health, or the future of nutrition science… this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. #UltraProcessedFoods #MetabolicHealth #WeightLoss

    39 min

  5. 19 MAR

    The (Not So Obvious) Case for Staying Natty | Ep 25

    Is staying natural the smarter path to building muscle, improving fitness, and protecting long-term health?  In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we break down the rising trend of steroids, SARMs, peptides, and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs)—and make a powerful, evidence-based case for staying natty. From TikTok fitness influencers to everyday gym-goers, PED use is becoming mainstream—especially among young men chasing faster gains and aesthetic physiques. But what are the real tradeoffs? This episode explores the hidden risks of steroids and PEDs, including: The link between PED use and body dysmorphiaHow drugs may break the connection between fitness and healthWhy natural lifters are more likely to achieve sustainable, aesthetic physiquesThe unknown long-term health risks of modern performance-enhancing compoundsThe influence of social media, looksmaxxing culture, and pharmaceutical incentivesWe also compare classic physiques like Steve Reeves to modern bodybuilding icons, highlighting how training, expectations, and drug use have reshaped the definition of fitness. If you’re considering steroids, TRT, or other enhancements—or simply want to build muscle naturally, safely, and sustainably—this episode is a must-listen. Key Topics: natural bodybuilding, steroids side effects, SARMs risks, TRT, fitness vs health, muscle building, body image, gym culture, longevity, aesthetics, performance enhancement 🎧 Tune in and discover why staying natural might be your best move—for your body, your mindset, and your future. #StayNatty #NaturalBodybuilding #FitnessTruth #SteroidFree #PEDsAwareness

    42 min
  6. Carbs vs Fat - Metabolic Health, Weight Loss & Gold Standard Science | Ep 24

    12 MAR

    Carbs vs Fat - Metabolic Health, Weight Loss & Gold Standard Science | Ep 24

    Does eating fat actually make you fat? Or has modern nutrition science gotten the story backwards? In this episode of Unconditional, Norbie Schickel explores one of the biggest debates in modern nutrition: low-carb vs. low-fat diets and whether fat loss really comes down to “calories in, calories out.” The episode revisits the rise of the low-carb movement after Gary Taubes’ influential 2002 article, “What If It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?”, which challenged decades of dietary advice by arguing that carbohydrates and sugar—not dietary fat—may be the real drivers of obesity and metabolic dysfunction. But when proponents of the carbohydrate-insulin model put their theory to the ultimate test in a gold-standard randomized controlled trial conducted by NIH researcher Kevin Hall, the results appeared to contradict the low-carb hypothesis. Headlines quickly declared victory for low-fat diets. Norbie breaks down what the study actually found—and more importantly, how it was designed. From the surprisingly small sample size to the six-day dietary intervention and calculated fat loss measurements, this episode explores the details that rarely make it into headlines. Along the way, the conversation raises a bigger question: How should we interpret nutrition science—and what counts as real evidence when it comes to health and fat loss? If you’re interested in nutrition science, metabolic health, keto and low-carb diets, the food pyramid debate, and the limits of “following the science,” this episode is a fascinating deep dive. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Fat vs Carbs & Gold Standard Science 06:04 Science & Nutrition - The Stakes & Context 06:42 Calories In Calories Out Is At Stake 07:50 The Role Of Dietary Fat & Weight Gain is at Stake 08:45 The Role of Science in Nutrition is at Stake 11:34 Humans Have Historically NOT Relied On Science For Nutrition 17:29 Gary Tuabes vs Kevin Hall - The Big Fat Debate 27:18 The Actual Study 37:46 The Validity of Fat Burn Measurements 40:09 Study Design and Its Implications 42:22 The Role of Science in Nutrition #metabolichealth #fatloss #ketodiet #lowcarbdiet #weightloss RESOURCES  Kevin Hall Paper BBC Article

    43 min
  7. The Four Horseman of The Aging Apocalypse | Training, Longevity & Attia | Ep 23

    5 MAR

    The Four Horseman of The Aging Apocalypse | Training, Longevity & Attia | Ep 23

    What if the last 10 years of your life are nothing like you imagine? In this episode of Unconditional, Norbie reflects on turning 42 (10.5 leap years) and dives deep into longevity, health span, and how to train for what Dr. Peter Attia calls the Marginal Decade — the final decade of your life that you won’t see coming. Inspired by a powerful centenarian quote featured by Business Insider — “If I think old, I’m going to act old” — this episode explores why mindset alone isn’t enough. You have to physically prepare now for the life you want later. Norbie also addresses the recent controversy surrounding Attia’s association with Jeffrey Epstein, and asks: Can powerful ideas stand apart from flawed people? In This Episode: Why modern fitness culture may be drifting away from real healthThe truth about aging vs. inevitable declineThe “Four Horsemen” most likely to break down as you age:  Knees. Hips. Back. Shoulders.How to bulletproof your body for independence in your 70s, 80s, and beyondWhy fixing small pains now is critical for long-term vitalityFeaturing practical insights from: Ben Patrick (Knees Over Toes Guy)Dr. Stuart McGillThis isn’t about aesthetics.  It’s about building strength, mobility, and resilience for the final decade of your life — whenever it comes. Train for the long game. Your marginal decade is coming. CHAPTERS 00:00 Training For Longevity 05:10 The Disgraced Dr. Peter Attia 12:02 The Marginal Decade 18:30 The Four Horseman Of The Aging Apocalypse 23:05 Bulletproofing Knees For Longevity 34:20 Bulletproofing Hips For Longevity 41:56 Bulletproofing The Back For Longevity 42:11 Back Pain Insights From Dr. Stuart McGill 48:31 Bulletproofing Shoulders For Longevity 52:17 Building a Marginal Decade for Longevity AI OVERVIEW Norbie Schickel explores the concept of longevity, health span, and the importance of training for the 'marginal decade' of life. Drawing on insights from Dr. Peter Attia, Ben Patrick and Dr. Stuart McGill and personal experiences, he emphasizes the significance of maintaining key body systems—knees, hips, back, and shoulders—to ensure vitality and independence in later years. keywords longevity, health span, marginal decade, aging, fitness, knee health, hip mobility, back pain, shoulder strength #longevity #heathspan #fitover40

    54 min
  8. Jacked Without the Gym: Build Muscle & Burn Fat with Bands, Bells & Bodyweight | Ep 22

    26 FEB

    Jacked Without the Gym: Build Muscle & Burn Fat with Bands, Bells & Bodyweight | Ep 22

    We’ve never had more gyms, trainers, or fitness advice—so why are more people overweight than ever?  What if the modern fitness gym, and an industry shaped by bodybuilding is actually keeping you from building the lean, ripped and athletic body that you are going for? In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we break down how to build a lean, muscular, athletic physique without relying on expensive gyms, complicated machines, or bodybuilding-style “bro splits.” After personally losing nearly 50 pounds while leaving traditional gym training behind, Norbie explores the simple, brutally effective training methods that transformed his body, energy, and performance. You’ll discover how bodyweight training, resistance bands, and kettlebells can deliver powerful results—helping you burn fat, build muscle, improve mobility, and increase endurance from home or anywhere. We also dive into the hidden influence of bodybuilding on modern fitness, the benefits of HIIT training, and why consistency—not complexity—is the real key to getting ripped and staying healthy long term. Whether your goal is fat loss, muscle gain, functional strength, or longevity, this episode provides practical insights and minimalist tools to help you reclaim your health and build your strongest body—without the gym. Topics covered: • How to build muscle and lose fat without a gym • Bodyweight workouts for strength and fat loss • Resistance bands for progressive overload and mobility • Kettlebell training for power, endurance, and aesthetics • Why HIIT training is so effective for recomposition • Escaping bodybuilding-style training that doesn’t fit your goals • Simple, low-cost tools for lifelong fitness and health Perfect for listeners interested in: home workouts, kettlebell training, resistance band workouts, calisthenics, HIIT, fat loss, muscle building, functional fitness, longevity, and minimalist fitness. Chapters 00:00 Modern Fitness Has Led Us Astray 05:59 The Why For This Episode 06:27 The Influence of Bodybuilding on Fitness 10:07 Bodybuilding Is A Poor Match For Many People 20:02 Beyond Bodybuilding: Bands, Bells & Bodyweight Training 20:36 Bodyweight Training 22:56 The Single Greatest Bodyweight Movement? 33:00 Bodyweight Exercises and Variations 36:36 Training With Bands 42:31 Training With Kettlebells 43:01 Kettlebell Movements and Techniques 55:41 Kettlebell Movements for Longevity 59:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Resources Referenced Kettlebell Sport Vs. Hardstyle  Anthem Athletics Pavel Tsatsouline Coach Dan Johnn Ader Kettlebells (No Affiliation)  #fatloss #minimalistworkout #kettlebells #functionaltraining #hiit

    1hr 2min
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About

Unconditional with Norbie Schickel is a podcast in which we explore what it takes to reclaim radical health and fitness, build an unstoppable mindset, and create your most unlimited, unconditional life. Join each week as we go in-depth on topics related to optimizing mental health, physical performance and lifestyle design. Norbie Schickel is a father and a founder of Anthem Athletics - a fighting and training gear brand. With a lifelong interest in health, functional fitness, and real food nutrition, he started Unconditional to share his journey and passion for these topics with the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Norbie Schickel
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 UNCONDITIONAL
  • Show Website
    UNCONDITIONAL

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