Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 6: What really happens in a room.
Release Date: 02/10/2026
Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 10: Downloading the Arnold 2026
Friends & Enemies
Just got back from the Arnold Sports Festival and there’s a lot to unpack. In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we break down everything from the weekend — the meetings, the industry conversations, and how the event itself has evolved over the years. The Arnold has always been one of the biggest weekends in the fitness and supplement industry, but this year felt a little different. We talk about what stood out most at this year’s event, including the rise of influencer-driven brands, massive booth builds, and the moment everyone was talking about when the YoungLA booth was shut...
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Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 9: Costs Are Up. Sales Are Up. Now What?
Friends & Enemies
Friends & Enemies Podcast – The Truth About Protein Prices, Business Costs & Arnold 2026 Protein prices are up. Raw material costs are up. Freight is up. Labor is up. Packaging is up. The cost of doing business across the board is higher than it’s ever been. And yet… Protein is still selling more than it ever has. In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we break down what’s actually happening in the protein market — without the fluff and without the panic. We talk about: • Why whey and dairy costs continue to spike • The reality of freight, warehousing, and...
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Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 8: Austin Clare – Built Different
Friends & Enemies
Welcome back to the Friends & Enemies Podcast, presented by Axe & Sledge! 🎙️ In Episode 8, we’re joined by Austin Clare — diving deep into the real stories behind building momentum, embracing the hustle, and what it truly takes to grow both personally and professionally. In this episode, we break down: • Austin’s journey and what shaped his mindset • The challenges, lessons, and breakthroughs he’s experienced • How consistency, resilience, and relationships impact success • The unfiltered conversations that Friends & Enemies is all about Whether you're grinding...
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Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 7: Hustle Hard, Snack Harder
Friends & Enemies
The Snack King himself… Dean Perrone is in the building. In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we sit down with one of the longest-tenured members of the Axe & Sledge family — athlete turned sales rep, entrepreneur, and full-time dad of four girls. Dean has been with the brand longer than almost anyone, and his journey is a real look at loyalty, growth, and what it actually means to build a life while building a career. We talk about: • The early days of Axe & Sledge • Transitioning from athlete to sales rep • What being on the road in sales is really like • Side...
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Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 6: What really happens in a room.
Friends & Enemies
This episode is all about real meetings and real negotiations — the ones that actually move the needle. We break down how conversations really happen behind the scenes in business… how deals actually get done… and why most people walk into meetings completely unprepared for what really matters. We talk through: • how to control the tone of a meeting without being the loudest person in the room • how to read the other side before numbers ever get discussed • and how to negotiate without burning relationships you still need long-term Like always, we go a little off the rails here and...
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Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 5: 1000 Minutes in Your Day
Friends & Enemies
What you do with your 1,000 minutes every day says everything about who you really are. In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we get real about the current fitness industry drama — an influencer changing his name, doxing people online, and ultimately getting dropped by sponsors. But instead of piling on, we use it as a bigger conversation starter about something that actually matters: 👉 Authenticity in the fitness and performance space. 👉 Building a brand and a career on who you truly are — not who you’re pretending to be. 👉 Why fake personas always get exposed…...
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Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 4: Culture, Retail & Growth
Friends & Enemies
Welcome back to the Friends & Enemies Podcast. In today’s episode, Shane and David sit down for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to build and grow a brand — without losing the culture that got you there in the first place. We dive into: • What “culture” actually means inside a growing company • Why alignment matters at every level — team, partners, and retail • The role GNC and Vitamin Shoppe play in expanding your message • Why growth isn’t just about distribution, but about finding the right customer • The real differences between...
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Friends & Enemies Podcast | Episode 3: A Puff the Endurance w/Bobby Dautrich
Friends & Enemies
On this episode of the Friends & Enemies Podcast presented by Axe & Sledge Supplements, Shane and David sit down with Bobby Dautrich for a raw, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to build something meaningful. We break down Bobby’s story from the beginning — where he came from, how he got into the fitness world, and the real grind behind building a successful apparel brand. We talk about the first time he met Seth, the balancing act between life and training, and the weight-loss journey that forced discipline, sacrifice, and accountability. This episode...
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Friends & Enemies: Episode 2: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Friends & Enemies
In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we kick off the new year with a real, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to run a supplement company. We break down the realities of leadership—setting new goals, building and protecting company culture, and making tough decisions that don’t always feel good but are necessary for long-term growth. From managing employees to navigating the hardships of parting ways with people for the betterment of the business, this episode dives into choosing the brand first over personal emotions. We also open the floor and answer direct...
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Episode 1: The Pilot is lit
Friends & Enemies
Axe & Sledge Year in Review | Innovation, Launches & Favorite Moments In this episode, Shane, President of Axe & Sledge Supplements, and David, VP of Sales, sit down to recap an absolutely insane year for the brand. From game-changing innovation and reformulations to some of our biggest product launches yet, we break down what went into building, evolving, and scaling Axe & Sledge over the past year. We talk about the wins, the lessons, the behind-the-scenes moments you don’t see on social media, and what it really takes to bring products from idea to shelf. We also dive...
info_outlineThis episode is all about real meetings and real negotiations — the ones that actually move the needle.
We break down how conversations really happen behind the scenes in business… how deals actually get done… and why most people walk into meetings completely unprepared for what really matters.
We talk through:
• how to control the tone of a meeting without being the loudest person in the room
• how to read the other side before numbers ever get discussed
• and how to negotiate without burning relationships you still need long-term
Like always, we go a little off the rails here and there — but that’s because this is a real, unfiltered conversation. No scripts. No fake guru talk. Just how we actually operate in rooms with retailers, partners, and decision makers.
If you’re in sales, leadership, brand building, or trying to grow something bigger than yourself — this one will hit.