Men’s Health Strong Talk

What happens when science meets real strength? Each week, Men's Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel and muscle scientist Dr. Pat Davidson sit down with actors, athletes, innovators, and other high performers who push human capabilities to their limits. From Hollywood transformations to elite sports prep, you'll hear candid stories, evidence-based insights, and the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to build strength for life. Men's Health's Strong Talk gives you the habits, tools, and mindsets to build strength that lasts a lifetime, whether you're chasing your first pullup, or fine-tuning yourself for peak performance.

  1. 6d ago ·  Video

    What Years of CrossFit Really Do to You—From 5-Time Champ Mat Fraser

    Five-time CrossFit Games champion Mat Fraser talks about the demands of elite training, why he didn’t stay at peak fitness all year, and the difficult adjustment to retirement. He also shares how he trains now and why he’s returning to competition. In this episode: 00:00 Mat Fraser interview highlights 05:31 When Mat chooses to push through pain 11:23 How hard should you train? 19:01 Why Mat saved his squat max for the Games 22:34 Elite competition vs. everyday fitness 29:39 Mat’s difficult transition to retirement 36:31 How Mat trains now 45:40 Why Mat wants to compete again 50:10 Mat’s 15-minute workout and go-to meal ------------------------------------------------ Strong Talk Resources: Get our top workout plan for aging strong:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a70593914/strengthspan-workout-program/ Sign up for our free weekly workout newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69809602/mh-muscle-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Join our Men's Health MVP membership program:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://membership.menshealth.com/mens-health-mvp-premium-membership-5999.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Browse our training plan library:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a45082203/mvp-fitness-training-plans/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Download our workout app:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69120934/all-out-studio-app/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ------------------------------------------------ Follow Men’s Health: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/menshealthmag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MensHealthMag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MensHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    What Years of CrossFit Really Do to You—From 5-Time Champ Mat Fraser
  2. Oct 28 ·  Video

    The Training & Diet Changes That Keep Tom Hopper Ripped at 41

    Tom Hopper has made some major changes to the way he trains and eats at 41—and the results speak for themselves. After years of pushing harder, lifting heavier, and training for demanding roles, he’s found a smarter approach to getting stronger, fitter, and staying healthy for the long run.   In this episode, he breaks down the changes that have made the biggest difference.   In this episode: 00:00 Tom Hopper interview highlights 07:19 The training lessons Tom learned from pushing too hard 18:44 The diet lessons that changed how Tom eats 25:27 Why Tom brought carbs back into his diet 33:50 How Tom structures training in his 40s 36:42 Tom’s rest day rules 45:02 Why longevity changed Tom’s training priorities 47:54 Why Tom stopped chasing heavy lifts ------------------------------------------------ Strong Talk Resources: Get our top workout plan for aging strong:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a70593914/strengthspan-workout-program/   Sign up for our free weekly workout newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69809602/mh-muscle-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    Join our Men's Health MVP membership program:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://membership.menshealth.com/mens-health-mvp-premium-membership-5999.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    Browse our training plan library:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a45082203/mvp-fitness-training-plans/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    Download our workout app:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69120934/all-out-studio-app/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    ------------------------------------------------ Follow Men’s Health: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/menshealthmag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MensHealthMag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MensHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    The Training & Diet Changes That Keep Tom Hopper Ripped at 41
  3. Oct 21 ·  Video

    The Recovery Mistakes Keeping You From Your Best Performance With Dr. Jason Wersland

    Recovery is more than simply not being sore—it’s about putting your body and nervous system in the best position to perform again. Dr. Jason Wersland, founder of Therabody, breaks down the biggest recovery mistakes people make and shares practical ways to use breathwork, awareness, movement, and recovery tools to recover better, regulate your nervous system, and get more out of your training. In this episode: 00:00 Dr. Jason Wersland interview highlights 04:30 The Science of the “Shallow” and “Deep” Recovery Pools 09:02 How to Activate Your Parasympathetic Nervous System 11:59 Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic: Understanding Your Nervous System 15:12 The Simple Recovery Habit Anyone Can Do 20:36 Why Your Phone May Be Hurting Your Recovery 27:02 How Recovery Tools Can Help You Perform, Recover, and Think Better ------------------------------------------------ Strong Talk Resources: Get our New Rules of Leg Day workout program:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a71411365/build-leg-muscle-training-program/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly workout newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69809602/mh-muscle-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Join our Men's Health MVP membership program:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://membership.menshealth.com/mens-health-mvp-premium-membership-5999.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Browse our training plan library:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a45082203/mvp-fitness-training-plans/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Download our workout app:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69120934/all-out-studio-app/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ------------------------------------------------ Follow Men’s Health: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/menshealthmag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MensHealthMag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MensHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    The Recovery Mistakes Keeping You From Your Best Performance With Dr. Jason Wersland
  4. Oct 14 ·  Video

    Muscle After 50 Masterclass: How to Train for More Muscle and Less Fat

    Building muscle after 50 is absolutely possible—but the rules change. In this muscle growth masterclass, 53-year-old trainer Bryan Krahn breaks down how men over 50 can train smarter, avoid nagging injuries, build more muscle, and lose fat without chasing outdated workouts that beat up their joints. You’ll learn the movement patterns, tools, rep ranges, and mindset shifts that keep you strong, lean, and training for the long run. In this episode: 00:00 Muscle after 50 masterclass episode highlights   06:31 Why it feels harder to build muscle after 50   14:32 Key movements to master for muscle growth  18:35 How to keep building muscle when pain gets in the way 25:41 Why you need to train smarter, not lighter   32:35 Safe power training after 50   44:48 Why bodybuilding is anti-aging training ------------------------------------------------ Strong Talk Resources: Get our top workout plan for men over 50: ⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a60307445/max-muscle-at-50-bryan-krahn/⁠⁠  Sign up for our free weekly workout newsletter: ⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69809602/mh-muscle-newsletter/⁠⁠  Join our Men's Health MVP membership program: ⁠⁠https://membership.menshealth.com/mens-health-mvp-premium-membership-5999.html⁠⁠  Browse our training plan library: ⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a45082203/mvp-fitness-training-plans/⁠⁠  Download our workout app: ⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69120934/all-out-studio-app/⁠⁠  ------------------------------------------------ Follow Men’s Health: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/menshealthmag/⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MensHealthMag/⁠⁠  Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MensHealth⁠⁠  X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/menshealthmag⁠⁠  TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@menshealthmag⁠⁠

    Muscle After 50 Masterclass: How to Train for More Muscle and Less Fat
  5. Sep 30 ·  Video

    Roman Reigns Reveals Body Dysmorphia Struggles and What It Takes to Stay WWE Shredded

    Roman Reigns joins Strong Talk for a candid conversation about what it really takes to get into superhuman shape—and the body dysmorphia struggles that come with it. From WWE to Street Fighter, Reigns gets real about training, longevity, and the pressure of staying in superstar shape. In this episode: Football vs. WWE vs. Street Fighter training (01:03) Why WWE strength is different (03:14) Roman on John Cena and The Rock behind the scenes (15:32) Recovery tools Roman actually pays attention to (22:58) Roman reveals his struggles with body dysmorphia (30:07) Roman’s advice for anyone struggling with body image (36:28) ------------------------------------------------ Strong Talk Resources: Get our New Rules of Leg Day workout program:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a71411365/build-leg-muscle-training-program/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly workout newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69809602/mh-muscle-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Join our Men's Health MVP membership program:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://membership.menshealth.com/mens-health-mvp-premium-membership-5999.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Browse our training plan library:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a45082203/mvp-fitness-training-plans/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Download our workout app:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69120934/all-out-studio-app/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ------------------------------------------------ Follow Men’s Health: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/menshealthmag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MensHealthMag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MensHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Roman Reigns Reveals Body Dysmorphia Struggles and What It Takes to Stay WWE Shredded
  6. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Is Lacrosse the Workout Most Guys Are Missing? Paul Rabil on Why It’s the Best Workout He’s Ever Done

    Paul Rabil is one of the greatest lacrosse players ever—and he still trains like it even in retirement at age 40. In this episode, Rabil explains why lacrosse builds a rare mix of strength, speed, conditioning, coordination, and toughness, and why more guys may want to steal from the way lacrosse players train. In this episode: How Paul found lacrosse — and why the sport is still hard to access (00:01) What makes lacrosse athletes different (13:25) Why Paul calls lacrosse his best workout ever (16:08) Why he stopped doing long, slow cardio (19:00) How Paul trains after retirement (44:22) ------------------------------------------------ Strong Talk Resources: Get our New Rules of Leg Day workout program:⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a71411365/build-leg-muscle-training-program/⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly workout newsletter:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69809602/mh-muscle-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Join our Men's Health MVP membership program:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://membership.menshealth.com/mens-health-mvp-premium-membership-5999.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Browse our training plan library:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a45082203/mvp-fitness-training-plans/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Download our workout app:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69120934/all-out-studio-app/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ------------------------------------------------ Follow Men’s Health: Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/menshealthmag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MensHealthMag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MensHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Is Lacrosse the Workout Most Guys Are Missing? Paul Rabil on Why It’s the Best Workout He’s Ever Done
  7. Sep 16 ·  Video

    Colin Kaepernick Says He's Ready to Play in the NFL Right Now. Why He's Not Done With Football

    Colin Kaepernick says he is still training like an NFL quarterback—and believes he could jump back in the game right now. In this episode, he shares the training plan that keeps him game-ready at 38, why he still wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to train, and how discipline, football, fatherhood, and unfinished business continue to influence his next chapter. In this episode: Colin’s relationship to sports growing up (00:00) The lesson he learned at 8 that changed his approach to training (05:11) His strategy for training hard when you want to quit (11:27) The hell workout he used to build elite athleticism (13:49) Why he thinks there’s no sport like football(15:45) How Black quarterbacks changed the NFL (21:01) Colin’s says he’s game-ready (23:06) Colin’s training plan for getting back in the NFL (24:13) His secret to never giving up (41:46) ------------------------------------------------ Strong Talk Resources: Get our New Rules of Leg Day workout program: ⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a71411365/build-leg-muscle-training-program/⁠ Sign up for our free weekly workout newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69809602/mh-muscle-newsletter/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Join our Men's Health MVP membership program: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://membership.menshealth.com/mens-health-mvp-premium-membership-5999.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Browse our training plan library: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a45082203/mvp-fitness-training-plans/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Download our workout app: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a69120934/all-out-studio-app/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ------------------------------------------------ Follow Men’s Health: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/menshealthmag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/MensHealthMag/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MensHealth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@menshealthmag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Colin Kaepernick Says He's Ready to Play in the NFL Right Now. Why He's Not Done With Football

Ratings & Reviews

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5 Ratings

About

What happens when science meets real strength? Each week, Men's Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel and muscle scientist Dr. Pat Davidson sit down with actors, athletes, innovators, and other high performers who push human capabilities to their limits. From Hollywood transformations to elite sports prep, you'll hear candid stories, evidence-based insights, and the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to build strength for life. Men's Health's Strong Talk gives you the habits, tools, and mindsets to build strength that lasts a lifetime, whether you're chasing your first pullup, or fine-tuning yourself for peak performance.

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