Lifting, Running and Living with Kelly and JK

Kelly Lutz and JK McLeod
  • 4.6 (8)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to Lifting, Running & Living! As coaches in the fitness space and two humans who love movement (running for Kelly, strength for JK), every episode will contain some element of fitness, plus a variety of other topics we're seeing, dealing with or hearing about. Join us every other Friday for chit chat, tangents & lots of laughing.

  1. 8h ago

    82. J&K Updates: Hill Climb, Lifting, Books, and Current Events on Social Media

    In Episode 82 of Lifting, Running, and Living, it’s an update episode! Kelly recaps the July 5 Vail Hill Climb weekend and her recent binge reads. JK shares his training split shift and recent trends regarding creatine on social media. He also addresses concerns around the death of college football player Nolan Wells and cultural differences regarding friends leaving someone behind. 00:00 Show kickoff updates 00:28 Vail hill climb recap 12:31 JK’s training update 28:45 Fourth Wing books 41:43 Creatine Claims Debunked 48:07 Nolan Wells Perspective 01:01:00 Wrap Up and Where to Find Us Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    82. J&K Updates: Hill Climb, Lifting, Books, and Current Events on Social Media

  2. Jul 3

    81. Routines, Guilt & Fitting In Fitness

    In episode 81 of Lifting, Running, and Living, Kelly shares “Brick” updates while traveling to Chicago and attending a Rockies game. JK recaps a trip to Omaha for the College World Series and gives an update on his no-complaint challenge. They then discuss how to prioritize lifting, cardio, mobility, and steps when there isn’t enough time for everything, share their current routines, and talk about guilt and low motivation versus relying on habits and responsibility. 00:00 Welcome and Updates 00:55 Brick Basics Refresher 03:21 Brick Travel Lessons 15:24 JK Omaha Trip Recap 25:02 No Complaint Challenge Check In 27:46 Too Much Fitness To Fit 31:01 Kelly Weekly Routine Breakdown 33:41 JK Current Training Split 37:20 Why This Routine Works 46:43 Exercise Guilt and Gaps 50:28 When Fitness Shows Up 54:10 Seasonal Priorities Mindset 59:20 Motivation Versus Habits 01:03:55 Wrap Up and Outro Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    81. Routines, Guilt & Fitting In Fitness

  3. Jun 19

    80. Has Wellness Culture Taken Optimization Too Far?

    In episode 80, JK describes starting a 30-day no-complaining challenge after noticing how easy it is to “cosign” others’ complaints, and he’s traveling to Omaha for a 14U baseball tournament and a College World Series game, while Kelly is traveling to Chicago, increasing running volume, lifting twice, and monitoring a heel issue that’s improving. They then talk about “health maxing,” reacting to a resurfaced Diary of a CEO clip where Steven Bartlett said three glasses of wine led to worse sleep, eating, gym performance, and podcasting for days, debating wearables, optimization culture, and checking in with yourself before device metrics. 00:00 Cold Open and Intro 00:33 Today’s Topics Preview 01:26 Kelly’s Chicago Update 05:06 JK’s No Complaining Challenge 13:50 Omaha Travel Baseball Plans 16:10 Courtesy Plates Gym Etiquette 21:25 Health Maxing and Viral Clip 25:03 Critiques of Optimization Culture 28:34 Recovery Time Skepticism 30:10 Bad Optimization Example 34:13 Sobriety vs Fun Debate 39:18 Wellness Surveillance Culture 42:46 Wearables Help or Harm 44:49 Metrics Anxiety in Training 49:55 HRV and Zone Two Hype 52:09 Actionable Takeaways 55:30 Wrap Up and Plug Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    80. Has Wellness Culture Taken Optimization Too Far?

  4. Jun 5

    79. Brick Updates, The Enhanced Games, and Coach/Influencer Transparency

    Kelly and JK start with both sharing updates on using Brick, a physical device that blocks apps/websites until you tap the phone to it. JK also announces Help Me Understand will relaunch in July back to broader topics while he starts a new fitness-focused podcast, Make Fitness Make Sense. They then discuss the Enhanced Games and debate whether coaches/influencers should disclose use of PEDs, HRT, fat burners, peptides, or GLP-1s, referencing a GLP-1 disclosure controversy and advising people to look for long-form content to vet consistency and context. 00:20 Episode 79 Topic Tease 01:11 Kelly Brick Explained 07:21 JK Brick Review 15:05 Podcast Relaunch Plans 19:19 Enhanced Games Overview 25:53 Enhanced Games Reactions 33:39 Can Drugs Break Records 36:11 Optimization Manosphere Angle 37:14 Disclosure Rules For Influencers 45:53 Coaches PEDs And Trust 47:10 GLP-1 Controversy Case Study 50:23 How To Vet Fitness Claims 52:08 Wrap Up And Contact Info Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    79. Brick Updates, The Enhanced Games, and Coach/Influencer Transparency

  5. May 22

    78. Mile Time Trials, Brick & Being “Fit Enough”

    Kelly and JK open with quick life and training updates, including a recent track session that turned into a hard mile effort and early impressions of using the Brick device to curb phone and social-media habits. From there, they introduce a broader conversation about what it means to be in a “good place” with fitness and discuss how different environments and platforms can shape self-perception. They close with a few practical ideas for keeping comparison in check and building a clearer personal definition of progress. Timestamps: 01:45 Chicago Trips and Heel Rehab 03:03 Birthday Mile Time Trial 11:37 JK Update The Brick Device 24:14 Main Topic What Is Fit Enough 26:07 When Fitness Feels Enough 26:34 Defining a Good Place 34:55 Fitness for Real Life 37:41 Strava Comparison Spiral 40:23 Exposure Changes Standards 48:13 Practical Tips and Wrap Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    78. Mile Time Trials, Brick & Being “Fit Enough”

  6. May 8

    77. Did their Shoes End her Career? Abby vs Puma

    In episode 77, Kelly recaps a short Chicago work trip, says she’s pausing Runna for at least a month due to slow-healing heel/Achilles pain, and shares that keeping her phone “bricked” during travel felt helpful. JK updates on a week in Alabama, including a stop at Buc-ee’s, training at well-equipped Armor Gym, and accidentally switching to a lower/upper split. The main topic is sprinter Abby Steiner’s April 2026 lawsuit against Puma and Mercedes, alleging carbon plate and Nitrofoam footwear altered her biomechanics, led to repeated foot injuries and surgeries, and may have ended her career, prompting discussion of super shoes, injury risk, and what evidence could surface via discovery or settlement. 01:13 Chicago Trip Recap 06:40 Runna Break and Heel Pain 14:46 Alabama Trip and Brunch 16:42 Why Buc-ees Rules 22:44 Gym Gear and Training Split 27:31 Steiner Lawsuit Overview 29:20 Timeline And Stakes 31:17 What Are Super Shoes 32:34 Injury Patterns And Training Load 43:29 Defect Claims And Reporting 01:00:32 Wrap Up And Sign Off Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    77. Did their Shoes End her Career? Abby vs Puma

  7. Apr 24

    76. Nike’s Backlash + What Counts as Real Recovery?

    In episode 76 of “Lifting, Running, and Living,” Kelly and JK share updates and discuss two topics: Nike’s marketing backlash and recovery versus active recovery. Kelly reviews the “Brick” and mentions an upcoming work trip to Chicago and debates whether to bring the Brick. JK shares an “April Unplugged” community challenge to eat at least one screen-free meal daily and describes a 14-day dopamine detox aimed at reducing consumption and improving content creation. They then cover Nike’s Boston Marathon-adjacent “Runners welcome, walkers tolerated” sign and similar UK messaging, and finally debate what truly qualifies as active recovery, emphasizing scheduled rest and avoiding “active recovery” as an excuse to skip real days off. 00:00 Welcome and agenda 01:07 Brick phone blocker explained 05:00 Chicago work trip plans 12:15 April Unplugged challenge 15:55 Dopamine detox for creators 20:25 Quick extra update niece birthday 21:26 Nike Boston sign backlash 27:34 Is Nike shifting its culture 30:15 Nike Runner Image Shift 32:00 Nike Controversy History 37:14 Parkrun Billboard Backlash 38:49 Defining Active Recovery 41:40 Rest Day Versus Movement 44:31 Strava And Rest Guilt 50:26 Scheduling Recharge Days 55:54 Earn Your Rest Mindset 01:00:05 Kids Never Stop Playing 01:04:06 Wrap Up And Contact Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    76. Nike’s Backlash + What Counts as Real Recovery?

  8. Apr 10

    75. Pregnancy and Athletic Contracts

    Kelly and JK celebrate episode 75 and share training updates: Kelly recaps a March 28 two-mile race and  notes issues with the Runna app. JK reports recommitting to priming and short recovery circuits after lifts, reframing rest days as “recharge” days, and separating recovery as part of training strategy rather than sleep. They then discuss controversy around marathoner Emma Bates being dropped by nutrition brand UCAN after revealing she was pregnant, including disputed contract/negotiation timing, reduced offers, PR implications, contractor protections, and whether sponsorship type affects pregnancy support. 00:00 Episode 75 Kickoff 01:29 Updates And Controversy Tease 01:54 Kelly Two Mile Race Recap 11:19 Runna App Frustrations 16:51 JK Recovery Work Recommitment 28:22 Courtroom Streams And Lunch Breaks 32:06 Unedited Reality Moments 32:35 Desensitized To Crime 34:57 Living Abroad Perspective 37:35 Pivot To Fitness Talk 37:58 Emma Bates Sponsor Dispute 43:43 Brand Nuance And PR 51:29 Contract Terms And Workload 01:00:49 Contractor Protections And Abercrombie 01:07:02 Wrap Up And Where To Find Us Follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠@liftingrunninglivingpod⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠liftingrunninglivingpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow JK at ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Follow Kelly at ⁠⁠⁠@runningklutz ⁠

    75. Pregnancy and Athletic Contracts
See All (82)

4.6
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to Lifting, Running & Living! As coaches in the fitness space and two humans who love movement (running for Kelly, strength for JK), every episode will contain some element of fitness, plus a variety of other topics we're seeing, dealing with or hearing about. Join us every other Friday for chit chat, tangents & lots of laughing.

Information

You Might Also Like