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Ep. 506: Only Got 6 WEEKS to Get Jacked and Lean? Do THIS:

The Hammer Cast

Release Date: 05/02/2026

Ep. 511: Pavel Macek on Old Time Strongman Secrets for Modern Strength Breakthroughs show art Ep. 511: Pavel Macek on Old Time Strongman Secrets for Modern Strength Breakthroughs

The Hammer Cast

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: https://www.AleksSalkin.com In this episode of The Hammer Cast I do a deep dive into old-time strongman training with none other than Master SFG Pavel Macek. We talk about its integration into StrongFirst's methodology, how kettlebells, dumbbells, barbells, and bodyweight work together, and the necessity of building all‑round strength to TRULY become strong and powerful like the old time strongmen.  In this episode we discuss: Pave's path from martial arts to StrongFirst and old-time iron culture The lineage from classic...

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Ep. 510: a SNEAK PEEK at my upcoming kettlebell challenge, Ep. 510: a SNEAK PEEK at my upcoming kettlebell challenge, "High Pull Noon"

The Hammer Cast

High Pull Noon – The Outlaw Kettlebell Lift That Saved My Shoulder and Skyrocketed My Strength [0:00–3:30] Origin Story & Shoulder Injury Aleks shares how a deadlifting mishap led to a frayed shoulder labrum and persistent morning pain. [3:30–7:30] The RKC Prep Program & High Pull Breakthrough [7:30–12:00] High Pole Noon & the Old West / Fitness History Analogy [12:00–15:55] Why the High Pull Was Wrongly Banished (and why kettlebell fanatics' shoulders and necks have suffered greatly ever since) [15:55–end] Call to Action & Free Resource Get my FREE 9 Minute...

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Ep. 509: Building a Better Kettlebell with Colin Lake show art Ep. 509: Building a Better Kettlebell with Colin Lake

The Hammer Cast

Get your own copy of the 9 Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:    In this episode of The Hammer Cast, Yours Jewly, Aleks “The Hebrew Hammer” Salkin, sits down with Colin Lake of Great Lakes Girya Pro to dish on what actually makes a great kettlebell. Colin shares his journey from competitive soccer in Canada to top-level personal trainer, how a car accident payout accidentally funded his strength career, and why he became obsessed with building a better kettlebell. In this episode: [0:03:30] Colin’s origin story: soccer, injury, and getting into...

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Ep. 508: Be Careful of What You Let Influence You show art Ep. 508: Be Careful of What You Let Influence You

The Hammer Cast

Get your own copy of the 9 Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:     In this episode of The Hammer Cast, Aleks “The Hebrew Hammer” Salkin explores why you must be careful what you let influence you—in training and in life. Drawing on a tense encounter at the post office and the principles of Psycho-Cybernetics and the “theater of the mind,” Aleks shows how to reframe negative experiences, manage your emotional state, and protect your performance from toxic inputs, whether it’s bad news, social media, or everyday stress....

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Ep. 507: Do you really NEED to be perfectly recovered before working out again? show art Ep. 507: Do you really NEED to be perfectly recovered before working out again?

The Hammer Cast

Get your own copy of the 9 Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:   https://www.9MinuteChallenge.com  In this episode of The Hammer Cast, Aleks “The Hebrew Hammer” Salkin answers a common question: Do you need to be perfectly recovered before you train again? Drawing on principles from Pavel and real-world examples, Aleks explains why chasing “perfect recovery” can actually hold you back, and how strategic light, moderate, and occasional hard sessions can accelerate your progress. He also shares practical tips for adjusting training on days you feel...

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Ep. 506: Only Got 6 WEEKS to Get Jacked and Lean? Do THIS: show art Ep. 506: Only Got 6 WEEKS to Get Jacked and Lean? Do THIS:

The Hammer Cast

Only got 6 weeks to get Swole by Summer? This episode will show you EXACTLY what to do:  [0:00:03] Six-Week “Get Jacked and Lean” Question Framing the core question: what to do in six weeks to look impressive at the beach/pool Brief expectation-setting: six weeks is enough for noticeable change, not total transformation [0:01:00] Introduction to Aleks (“Hebrew Hammer”) & Training Background Aleks’ personal training experience since 2010 Specialties: kettlebells, calisthenics, natural human movement, old-school bodybuilding, “True Grit” Philosophy: most answers are...

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Ep. 505: Ep. 505: "Iron Tamer" Dave Whitley on Why YOU Should Be Bent Pressing

The Hammer Cast

Get my 9 Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge HERE =>     On this most glorious of episodes, Dave Whitley returns so we can talk about: Light banter about SNL host jackets and writing our cats in for president (note: in 2028, please write in Ozzy PAWSbourne, I insist) Why the Bent Press Matters Dave’s role in the modern revival of the bent press Being called the “father of the modern bent press movement” Social media reactions: from high praise to harsh criticism Using the controversy as a practice in emotional balance and perspective Historical...

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Ep. 504: Clif Harski on Building TRUE Athleticism with Kettlebells show art Ep. 504: Clif Harski on Building TRUE Athleticism with Kettlebells

The Hammer Cast

Get my 9 Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge HERE =>     On this splendiferous episode with the great Clif Harski we dig deep into:  Limitations of Only Training the Fundamentals Critique of the “inch wide, mile deep” philosophy when it becomes a narrow trench Analogy of digging a foundation but never building the house Indiana Jones / Holy Grail analogy for strength that only works under ultra-specific conditions Over-Reliance on the “Big Six” Kettlebell Lifts Why double front rack squats aren’t the ultimate lower-body lift for strong...

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Ep. 503: What To Do If You Can't Crawl show art Ep. 503: What To Do If You Can't Crawl

The Hammer Cast

Sometimes, despite your ambitions, your body simply pushes back against your attempts to get stronger.  For some exercises finding an alternative is easy. For instance, if your shoulders can't yet handle military presses, you can always knock a home run out of the ballpark with pushups and lay the foundation for military pressing strength later on down the line.  But what do you do when you can't do even the most fundamental of movements, like crawling?  I give some insights on how to work around - and then barrel through - this conundrum in this short episode.  On that...

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Ep. 502: How to Train - and GAIN - When Your Job's a Pain show art Ep. 502: How to Train - and GAIN - When Your Job's a Pain

The Hammer Cast

Got a labor-intensive job?  Good news: you can still train and make gains. You just have to approach your training correctly.  This episode will tell you how.  On that note:  If you like training that: · Gives you more strength than it takes from you · Improves your stamina and resilience simultaneously · Powers-up every nook, cranny, crevice, and corner of your Soft Machine Then you just might like my 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge. As the name indicates, it’s just 9 minutes long, and it’s designed to be done WITH your current workouts – NOT instead...

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More Episodes

Only got 6 weeks to get Swole by Summer? This episode will show you EXACTLY what to do: 

  • [0:00:03] Six-Week “Get Jacked and Lean” Question

    • Framing the core question: what to do in six weeks to look impressive at the beach/pool
    • Brief expectation-setting: six weeks is enough for noticeable change, not total transformation
  • [0:01:00] Introduction to Aleks (“Hebrew Hammer”) & Training Background

    • Aleks’ personal training experience since 2010
    • Specialties: kettlebells, calisthenics, natural human movement, old-school bodybuilding, “True Grit”
    • Philosophy: most answers are already within you; success is about arranging habits correctly
  • [0:02:30] General Strategy: Move Every Day

    • Daily movement as a non‑negotiable
    • Pat Flynn guitar analogy: frequent practice beats occasional marathons
    • Simple ideas: parking farther away, taking stairs, casual movement throughout the day
  • [0:04:00] Weekly Training Framework

    • Suggested structure:
      • 3 days: traditional strength training (compound presses, pulls, squats, hinges)
      • 2 days: intermediate / “in‑between” work (cardio or other chosen exercises)
      • 2 days: “off” from hard training, but still walking and light movement
    • Distinction between “moving every day” vs. “training hard every day”
  • [0:06:00] Protein & Diet Fundamentals

    • Protein at every meal
    • Recommended intake: 0.7–1.0 g per pound of lean bodyweight
    • Avoiding excessive protein obsession; importance of also getting fats, carbs, fruits, and vegetables
    • Why supplements and fad diets are overhyped compared to basic nutrition
    • “Gun to the head” test for healthy eating: lean meats, fruits, vegetables, whole foods
  • [0:09:00] Muscle Building vs. Strength Training Focus

    • Defining strength training (lower reps, more sets, more neural efficiency)
    • Defining muscle building (working near failure with fewer hard sets)
    • Example: 10‑rep max exercise used for 1–5 reps (strength) vs. 8–9 reps (hypertrophy)
    • Quoting Lee Priest: “Stimulate, don’t annihilate” – pushing hard without crippling recovery
    • Why the beach cares more about visible muscle than pure nervous system strength
  • [0:12:00] Getting Lean: Why Diet Dominates

    • Importance of leanness even without massive new muscle
    • Rough breakdown of daily calorie burn:
      • ~60% basal metabolic rate
      • ~10–15% general movement
      • ~5% formal exercise
    • Practical takeaway: diet quality and quantity drive fat loss more than workouts
  • [0:14:00] Sleep, Recovery, and Hormones

    • Sleep as a major lever for:
      • Recovery from training
      • Hormone production (e.g., testosterone)
      • Reducing cravings for sugar- and carb‑dense foods
    • Modern challenges: artificial light, doom‑scrolling
    • Tease of future content on sleep improvement strategies
  • [0:15:30] Loaded Gait Pattern Work: Concept & Benefits

    • Explanation of “loaded gait pattern work” (walking/carrying weight)
    • Why gait is the most natural human movement pattern
    • Claim: loaded carries are powerful for fat loss and strength support, even with modest weights
    • Idea that you can build muscle and lose fat simultaneously beyond just beginners if done intelligently
  • [0:17:00] Real-World Success Stories with Loaded Carries & Crawling

    • Crawl-A-Days Challenge examples:
      • ER doctor Judson Korn: big strength gains (one‑arm pushup) in ~14 days without specific practice
      • Lina Everby: noticeable fat loss and visible abs within ~14 days
      • Malcolm McAllen: visible abs within ~30 days from 10 minutes of crawling per day
    • Nine-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge:
      • Program overview and purpose
      • Link mention: nineminutechallenge.com (9minutechallenge.com)
  • [0:19:00] More Loaded Carry Examples & Case Studies

    • Matt Furey’s story of the Canadian farmer:
      • 60-day journey carrying a 40 lb weight
      • Gradual progression to 10 short walks per day
      • Result: ~30 lbs lost, very lean, PRs in pullups and pushups at ~60 years old
    • Jamie Lewis’ Amazon warehouse story:
      • Pushing moderate-weight carts at a steady pace
      • Rapid fat loss despite eating lots of pizza and being off steroids
    • Reinforcing loaded gait as a practical, almost “accidental” fat loss strategy
  • [0:21:00] Practical Six-Week “Swole for Summer” Recap

    • Daily movement with 3 days of compound strength/muscle-building sessions
    • Minimum 5 days per week of loaded gait work
    • 2 lighter days (still walking/moving)
    • Protein at each meal (0.7–1 g per pound of lean bodyweight)
    • Emphasis on:
      • Muscle-focused training (near-limit sets, low volume)
      • Less emphasis on endless kettlebell ballistics for leanness vs. loaded gait
      • Improved diet and better sleep as primary leanness drivers
  • [0:22:00] “Swole by Summer” Program Tease & Call to Action

    • Announcement of the upcoming 6‑week “Swole by Summer” program
    • Program focus areas:
      • “Movability” (flexibility, mobility, coordination)
      • Brief strength sessions to “prime” high-threshold motor units
      • Specific muscle-building work, including some avant‑garde movements
      • Dedicated loaded gait work for leanness and “showing off” built muscle
    • Managing expectations: you won’t go from Woody Allen to Arnold Schwarzenegger in six weeks, but you can make dramatic, visible changes
    • How to get updates and access:
      • Join email list via http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com (and get the FREE 9 Minute Challenge, to boot!)
      • Instructions to email/reply if listening later and still interested in Swole by Summer