420 - Braving Polar Bears, Facing Off Against the Columbian Military, and Team Dynamics with Frank Wolf
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Release Date: 03/20/2025
438 - Crafting Your Ideal Jiu-Jitsu Journey, with Tom Wortman
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
AOJ black belt Tom Wortman is a fierce competitor; he won IBJJ Pans, Euros, North Americans and Master Worlds in a single year as a brown belt. He's also a jiu-jitsu gypsy, typically training at a club for 3 to 6 months, then moving thousands of miles to see a new part of the country and training at a new club. Find out how he he does this, what the red and green flags are for training at new clubs, how to stay injury free even when training 7 days a week, and redefining success on your own terms. I hope you find Tom as inspiring and insightful as I did - enjoy! Also, please...
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437 - Adam Shoalts, Vanished Beyond the Map
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Canoeist and author Adam Shoalts on the mindset that drives individuals to seek adventure, and the importance of safety and decision-making in the wilderness. We also dive into the mysterious disappearance of the greatest explorer you've never heard of. Grab Adam's book, Vanished Beyond the Map, anywhere books are sold or here: https://adamshoalts.com/literature/ Follow Stephan Kesting's outdoor adventures here: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@essentialwilderness Check out...
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436 - How Training Your Submissions as Positions Takes Your Game to the Next Level, with Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Today the tables get turned and I end up on the other end of the microphone as Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models picks my brain about the huge benefits that arise to treating your jiu-jitsu submissions as positions first, and submissions second. I promise this will make perfect sense by the end of the episode, and may change how you approach your training. Check out my positional approach to mastering the Kimura and tapping out more training partners and competition opponents at And check out Steve Kwan's excellent BJJ Mental Models podcast at Thanks! Stephan
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435 - Roy Dean and the Origins of BJJ in North America
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Renowned BJJ blackbelt Roy Dean came onto The Strenuous Life Podcast to talk about his research into how BJJ got started in North America, martial arts culture in Japan, the power of Judo in self defense situations, the importance of role models in shaping one's conception of masculinitym and more. If you get a chance, please give this show a rating in Spotify or Apple Podcasts. That really helps! Also, you can order Roy's new book "Groundswell" here: And check out "The Kimura Roadmap" here: Cheers, Stephan Kesting
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434 - High-Percentage BJJ Competition Strategies with Beatrice 'Berimbozo' Jin
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Beatrice Jin shares the competition strategies that have allowed her to become the American National adult black belt middleweight champion and one of the top ranked black belts in the world. From guard pulls to sweeps to takedowns to pin escapes to conditioning to KO grips to structuring open mats so that they become a competitive advantage for you, Beatrice doesn't hold anything back. If you compete, or if you're thinking about competing, this is a must-listen. Follow Beatrice on Instagram at and her incredibly successful women's open mat program at . Or train with her at in...
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433 - How Jiu-Jitsu Builds an Unshakeable Self Confidence, with Alicia Reitz
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Alicia Reitz and I dive deep into how BJJ can be used to develop a strong sense of self confidence for everyone, and how that self confidence can then be put to good use in self defense and the the rest of your life. We also digress a little into specifics of the social media drama that I was involved in recently, which certainly raised my blood pressure just a little. Alicia Reitz (Hon.B.Kin, B.Ed. Hon.B.Kin, B.Ed.) is a BJJ Brown Belt and does in person and remote coaching. Follow her and get in touch with her via Instagram at Please like, share and subscribe. And if...
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432 - Hybrid Training 4: Optimal Conditioning for Winning BJJ Tournaments, with James Deirmendjian
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
James Deirmendjian a strength and conditioning coach specialising in combat and tactical athletes who ALSO competes in BJJ, fighting against much younger opponents. As such he was the perfect choice to finish our 4-part series on hybrid training and the science of developing strength and endurance at the same time. In this episode James and I touch on many topics, including… The most important aspects of fitness for winning matches in BJJ and how to develop it The difference between getting tired in a match vs not recovering between matches How to schedule weightlifting and cardio so...
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431 - Hybrid Training 3: Mixing Ultramarathon and Strength Training with James Pieratt
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
James Pieratt from Wild Hunt Conditioning joins us to share what he learned on an expedition in which he ran 802 miles through nearly the entire state of California. James is unique in the ultrarunning community because he also lifts heavy weights and trains in BJJ. We looked at the mindset and philosophy required for ultrarunning, the emotional journey of endurance athletes, and the importance of strength training for overall health and performance. We also covered training regimens, the science behind strength and endurance training, and shared insights for athletes looking to enhance...
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430 - Hybrid Training 2: The Science of Strength, Power and Endurance with Chris Duffin
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Record-setting powerlifter and freak athlete Chris Duffin discusses the intricacies of hybrid training, focusing on the balance between strength and endurance. He shares his unique qualifications, including his experience with elite athletes and his world record feats. Chris breaks down the relative importance of skill, and the mechanical, neurological, and metabolic factors that influence power output, and the often-overlooked role of the diaphragm in performance. Duffin also provides insights on training for generalists, emphasizing the need for injury mitigation and effective training...
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429 - Hybrid Training 1: Peaking for Power, Endurance, and Mental Strength with Mike McCastle
The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting
Mike McCastle smashed David Goggins' pullup record by doing 5,804 pull-ups in 24 hours while wearing a 30-pound backpack... and pulled an F-150 pickup truck 22 miles through Death Valley... and flipped a 250 lb tire for 13 miles... and climbed a rope for the equivalent distance of Mount Everest... and has trained MMA fighters, alpinists, and extreme adventurers like Colin O'Brady, the first man to cross Antarctica solo and unsupported. As such, he's the perfect person to kick off our 4-part series on hybrid training, where we'll delve into the art and science of maximising strength AND...
info_outlineFrank Wolf is an explorer, a writer, and one hell of an adventurer. In this episode we cover what he learned about endurance and survival during his travels in the Arctic, Central America, and Antarctica.
Check out his fantastic book Two Springs, One Summer anywhere you get books in including Indigo and Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Springs-One-Summer-Adventurer/dp/1771606843
Please feel free to share this episode with that one crazy outdoor enthusiast in your life because that's how the show grows!
Cheers,
Stephan Kesting
P.S. Also check out my own book Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic - links available at https://www.stephankesting.com/perseverance-book