Optimal Physique Development

Joe Jeffery

Optimal Physique Development is a podcast dedicated to bringing you expert advice and information on all things physique enhancement.

  1. 11/01/2025

    Mindfulness & Performance with Tom Sheppard

    Summary In this episode of the OPD podcast, Joe and Austin welcome Tom Shepherd, a performance coach and author, to discuss the importance of mindfulness in training and life. Tom shares his journey in the fitness industry, emphasizing the significance of quality over quantity in training, the role of suffering in personal growth, and the transformative power of meditation. The conversation explores how mindfulness can enhance performance in sports and daily activities, the flow state, and the importance of creating a culture of self-improvement. Tom also introduces his upcoming venture, Kaizen, focused on constant self-improvement. Takeaways - Mindfulness is about channeling attention to what we want in our lives. - Mindfulness can enhance performance in sports and daily activities. - Suffering can lead to personal growth and deeper meaning in life. - Meditation should focus on acceptance and stillness, not just relaxation. - Finding meaning in suffering can transform our perspective on life. - Athletic endeavours can provide a safe space to explore suffering and resilience. - The flow state is where effortless action occurs, enhancing performance. - Recognising moments of mindfulness can lead to greater fulfillment in life. - Creating a culture of self-improvement is essential for personal development. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tom Shepherd and Mindfulness 02:37 The Importance of Mindfulness in Performance 04:32 Understanding Focus and Attention 08:48 Quality Over Quantity in Training 12:41 Practicing Mindfulness in Daily Life 15:28 The Impact of Environment on Mindfulness 20:14 Mindfulness in Martial Arts and Training 23:58 Self-Reflection and Mindfulness in Work 30:27 Finding Meaning in Activities 37:33 The Relationship Between Fun and Meaning 40:41 The Balance of Thrills and Meaning 41:28 Mindfulness and the Search for Meaning 42:15 Understanding Suffering and Its Role in Life 43:38 Facing Inner Demons for Personal Growth 45:35 Resilience Through Adversity 46:19 Meditation: Beyond Relaxation 48:53 Cultivating Focus and Mindfulness 51:42 The Importance of Non-Goal-Oriented Meditation 53:45 Finding Effortless Action in Life 55:52 The Flow State and Meaningful Action 58:43 Applying Mindfulness to Everyday Life 01:00:58 Creating Meaning Through Responsibility 01:04:10 The Necessity of Suffering for Fulfillment 01:05:31 Strength Through Suffering 01:06:17 The Future of Coaching and Self-Improvement

    1h 8m

  2. 09/22/2025

    Beware, 'Functional Health'.

    Summary In this episode of the OPD podcast, Joe and Austin delve into the complexities of functional health, discussing the impact of social media on health anxiety, the dangers of fear-based marketing, and the importance of understanding the root causes of symptoms. They explore how stress and anxiety can exacerbate health issues and emphasize the need for mindfulness and acceptance in managing health. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges faced by competitors in the fitness industry and the significance of education in navigating the functional health landscape. Takeaways Functional health is often misrepresented on social media.Symptoms can be exacerbated by health anxiety and stress.Fear-based marketing can lead to unnecessary health concerns.Mindfulness practices can help regulate the nervous system.Understanding the root causes of symptoms is crucial for healing.Many health issues are secondary to stress and anxiety.Competitors in fitness may face unique health challenges.It's important to avoid echo chambers in health discussions.Temporary symptom relief is not a long-term solution.Education and understanding are key in functional health. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Video Format 02:04 Exploring Functional Health and Its Misconceptions 03:28 The Role of Symptoms and Health Anxiety 05:26 The Impact of Social Media on Health Perception 07:52 The Complexity of Health Issues and Treatment Approaches 12:01 Understanding the Feedback Loop of Symptoms and Stress 14:53 The Importance of Systemic Thinking in Health 18:33 The Dangers of Fear-Based Marketing in Health 22:01 Navigating Health Information and Testing 24:49 The Role of Diet and Lifestyle in Health Management 27:55 Temporary Solutions vs. Long-Term Health Strategies 31:04 Navigating Variability in Health 34:15 Understanding Stress and Anxiety Responses 38:16 The Role of Mindfulness and Acceptance 42:04 Breaking Free from Reliance on Supplements 46:04 The Impact of Marketing on Health Perception 50:43 Trust Issues in Health Coaching 54:46 Identifying Stress as a Core Issue 57:07 Functional Health for Competitors vs. General Population

    1h 3m

  3. 06/04/2025

    Pregnenolone Deep Dive w/ Dave Lee

    We are honoured to be joined today by the master of the neurosteroid and TRT-realm, Dave Lee, to dig into some of the more intricate discussion surrounding pregnenolone supplementation for mental health, sleep, quality of life & more. Check out Dave here: IG: @imdavelee Linktr.ee/imdavelee

    1h 8m

  4. 03/08/2025

    March Q&A - Influencers, Kratom & Audiobooks

    Back for another IG Q&A, today we run through Joe's experience of the Arnold's, autonomic nervous system interactions with chronic illness, and a bunch of listener questions.

    45 min

  5. 12/25/2024

    Why Austin's 24 Prep Made Him Cry

    In this episode, Austin runs us through his most recent prep in detail, how he added a significant amount of size, how he landed peeled, and how he feels about the placings.

    1h 3m

  6. 10/29/2024

    Peak Week Ramblings

    A long-form, open discussion on how we like to handle peak week's for a variety of classes and criteria.

    54 min

  7. 09/20/2024

    September Catch up With the Hosts

    Another instalment of you guys favourite! In this episode, Austin & Joe get caught up on how the competitive season is going, and some fun stuff planned for the rest of this year.

    57 min

  8. 08/26/2024

    Carbscast Special: We Back Baby

    The comeback nobody was waiting for. A little rusty, probably not as funny as it used to be, but we had a blast anyway.

    57 min
See All (128)

Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

Optimal Physique Development is a podcast dedicated to bringing you expert advice and information on all things physique enhancement.

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