The Life Time Talks Podcast

Many people engage with group training programs for the community and accountability — and because, when designed based on science and research, they can offer fitness growth beyond what an individual might otherwise be able to achieve on their own. In this mini episode, Nastassia Smith shares the advantages of Life Time’s signature group training, and offers guidance if you’re considering giving it a try yourself.

Many of us set big goals — particularly around our health — each time we enter a new year. But how can we make sure they are sustained and continue to evolve throughout all 365 days? Life Time Talks cohosts Jamie Martin and David Freeman speak to the strategies that work for them and share how they’re personally approaching their well-being this year.

Magnesium is one of the most prevalent minerals in the body, impacting how we feel and function every day — yet it’s also the second most common nutrient deficiency behind vitamin D. In this mini episode, Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, explains magnesium’s far-reaching role in our health and offers tips for making sure our bodies have optimal levels.

Our health-care industry can be confusing and difficult to navigate — and it presents challenges when the lifestyle changes that can help manage or prevent illnesses aren’t considered. Marty Makary, MPH, offers a transparent look at the industry and underscores why lifestyle changes are such important factors in the quality of our health.

Intermittent fasting is referred to in various terms — 16:8, alternate-day fasting, 5:2, time-restricted eating. But even if you’re simply just choosing to wait to eat until your first hunger pang, this practice can result in some significant and positive health effects when done thoughtfully. Paul Kriegler, RD, LD, CPT, walks through the different methods of this dietary approach, including the benefits it can provide and guidance for those interested in trying it.

Vitamin D is the most common micronutrient deficiency — but it’s also one that we can prevent with relative ease. In this mini episode, Anika Christ, RD, CPT, explains why vitamin D is critical to our health, including its role in immunity, and offers ways we can make sure our bodies get optimal levels.

Pilates is a system of exercise designed to train the entire body— from the core out — and it can offer benefits to nearly everyone, regardless of fitness ability or level. In this mini episode, Pilates expert Kathryn Coyle explains the far-reaching advantages of Pilates and offers tips for getting started.

At one point or another in all our lives, we will all go through hard things. We typically can’t prepare for them and they can catch us off guard, and yet we often often judge ourselves for how we react or behave in those moments — and after. Nora McInerny, author, podcast creator, and public speaker, joins us in this episode to talk about how to cope during those times, the ways they shape and change us, and why we can never move on or go back, but we can move forward.

Kettlebells are a ballistic tool that can be used for building strength, endurance, and mobility. They’re versatile and modifiable, and can benefit everyone, regardless of fitness level. In this mini episode, Maggie Fazeli Fard, RKC, senior fitness editor at Experience Life, shares the benefits of and tips for making kettlebells part of your fitness regimen.

What do I do if I’m not seeing results? How often do I need to exercise? How many calories should I be eating? Life Time coaches Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, and Lindsay Ogden, CPT, join us to answer the most common health and fitness questions they hear from our members — including these ones and more.

The better and faster you can recover, the more progress you can ultimately make with your fitness — and the healthier you’ll move and feel. In this mini episode, Danny King, Master Trainer at Life Time, explains the difference between system and muscle recovery, and the ways we can optimize our efforts for each.

Thyroid issues are prevalent: An estimated one in seven people are affected, with even more suffering from an imbalance — and many not even aware that their thyroid is behind their symptoms. Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, shares the signals our thyroid might be sending us, the tests to ask for, and the lifestyle habits we can implement in our daily lives to nourish and support our thyroids.

Just as you train your body, it’s important to also train your brain. Meditation is a powerful tool we can use to become more aware, compassionate, and focused — in as little as a few minutes a day. In this mini episode, Eric Jeffers, yoga and meditation Master Trainer at Life Time, explains the strength of meditation and offers simple tips anyone can use to get started.

Of all the calories we eat each day, 20 percent are used by our brains — so it’s no wonder there’s such a strong connection between our nutritional habits and mental-health status. Drew Ramsey, MD, psychiatrist, author, and mental-health advocate, joins us to explain this relationship and teach us about the food choices that best support our brains and mental well-being.

Our bodies are 70 percent water, so maintaining a healthy body starts with sustaining healthy hydration habits. In this mini episode, Paul Kriegler, RD, explains why proper hydration is so essential for our health and how we can make sure we’re optimizing our water intake.

When it comes to building optimal health — including goals like losing weight — fitness and nutrition are often the two main factors that are associated with results. But there are many other lifestyle behaviors that influence your ability to reach and sustain your goals. Anika Christ, RD, CPT, joins us to take a comprehensive look, offering strategies for better health as a whole — and weight loss as a byproduct.

In sports and in life, the ability to be coachable is a helpful trait that can take you far. NFL veteran Desmond Howard shares his inspiring insights and personal experience around why being coachable matters — and ways to open yourself up to it.

Fueling for workouts can be tricky: How we do it depends on a lot of individual factors, and it can take time to learn what does or does not work for us. Cliff Edberg, RD, Master Trainer at Life Time, breaks down what we need to know about pre- and post-workout nutrition, and offers general guidelines we can start with to then hone in on what’s best for us.

At any stage, making a life change — and focusing on the pursuit of health and fitness — can be challenging. Kemma Cunningham, a Life Time group fitness performer, shares her journey to do both, and offers her advice for others looking to find what sparks excitement and purpose in them.

Do you do things for the image of it or because it feels right to you? Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Shefali Tsabary explains that people — especially women — are often conditioned to sacrifice authenticity for goodness, putting others before themselves. She breaks down why and how this happens, as well as ways we can pursue a more free and true version of ourselves.

Salt is one of those nutrition topics that causes a lot of confusion: Is it good for us — or not? Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond Real Salt joins us to cut through the misconceptions, explaining the essential role of salt in our health, and how the good/bad conversation really boils down to what form of salt you’re eating and the foods it’s attached to.

Fundamental muscle and strength is something we all need. Ebenezer Samuel, CSCS, fitness director of Men’s Health, joins us to delve into the science of strength, including what it does for our physical health and other aspects of our well-being. He shares how to make strength training more accessible and create a quality workout plan, regardless of our fitness level or experience with this type of training.

Spring offers new opportunities for embracing fresh, locally grown produce. Chef Ryan Dodge joins us to explore the importance of these whole foods, as well as ways we can get more of them into our diet, whether we grow them ourselves or shop for them at a local farmers’ markets.

“Ikigai” is defined as a reason for living — and it’s a tool Jeanne Rosner, MD, uses in her own life to nurture a greater sense of purpose. In this episode, she talks about this Japanese concept and how it can help us live longer, more satisfying lives. Plus, she offers guidance for finding our personal ikigai and suggestions for easy ways to cultivate it in our daily lives.

Food provides a window into our culture. Celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson talks about the soul of American food, specifically Black food traditions, and how the origins of what and how we cook both influences and connects us.

The ability to be vulnerable — and show up as our real, authentic selves — is central to our well-being. Barbara Powell, MA, MindCoach with Life Time Mind, dives into the power of this raw emotion and debunks the myths surrounding it, including how it’s connected to our other emotions and why it’s OK if it doesn’t feel entirely comfortable to us.

Movement can take many shapes and forms outside of structured workouts. Kaisa Keranen, CPT — AKA KaisaFit — flips the script on common perceptions of fitness, including explaining the power and benefit that comes from moving our bodies often and in ways that feel good and bring us joy.

Ingrid Fetell Lee, designer, blogger, and author, joins us to talk about joy: what it means to seek joy, how it relates to our other emotions, and ways to make joy more tangible and real so we can bring more of it into our daily lives and physical spaces.

Metabolism is more complex than simply being “fast” or “slow” or controlled by exercise. There are many things we can do in our daily lives to optimize it. Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT, shares how to build the foundation for a healthy metabolism, as well as ways to dig deeper if you’re not seeing results or feeling your best.

Results are a lagging indicator of our habits. Lindsay Ogden, CPT, nutrition coach, walks us through her four-step process — what she calls the IPTR method — for developing lasting health habits, so you have the know-how and a tactical plan to go after your goals.

“When we start conversations — uncomfortable, courageous conversations — that’s what leads to change.” Join us for this talk about inclusion, diversity, having real conversations, and the work we can do to better ourselves and our communities.