Wits & Weights Podcast

All Episodes

Interviews Philip Pape Interviews Philip Pape

Build an Aesthetic Physique Without Destroying Your Mental Health with Laurin Conlin | Ep 226

Do you feel trapped by obsessive dieting and constantly analyzing your body? Are you sacrificing your mental health in the pursuit of fitness goals? What if you could build an aesthetic physique without losing your peace of mind? Philip takes us to the intersection of fitness and mental health with IFBB bikini pro and mental health advocate Laurin Conlin. They discuss how to break free from obsessive behaviors and anxiety around food and exercise, especially in the highly competitive world of physique sports. Laurin shares her journey and the mental costs of chasing the perfect body, offering practical strategies for overcoming food-related anxiety and adopting a more flexible, mentally healthy approach to fitness.

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Ignoring THIS Energy Source Is Killing Your Strength and Stamina (Power Systems) | Ep 225

Are you neglecting a crucial energy system in your workouts Discover how the engineering concept of Power Systems can be applied to your training (building strength and muscle as well as cardio and endurance) and how to make the most out of the sources of energy within your own body. This episode reveals why training all three of your body's energy pathways is necessary if you want to break through plateaus and build more strength, stamina, and overall fitness. Learn how to design workouts (and program your week) to tap into each system efficiently for improved performance and faster results. 

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Carbs Aren't the Problem (Keto, Paleo, Bioenergetic, and Pro-Metabolic Diets) | Ep 224

Do you find yourself torn between low-carb diets and pro-carb philosophies? Are you frustrated by conflicting advice about carbs and wondering what’s right for your body? Should you follow keto, paleo, or maybe a high-carb approach? Philip dives into the great carbohydrate debate and breaks down why carbs aren’t the enemy—or the magic cure—when it comes to your health and physique. He explores the truth behind the carb confusion, reveals why extreme approaches miss the bigger picture, and shares how you can build a sustainable, personalized nutrition strategy that fits your unique goals. Learn how to cut through the noise of diet trends, embrace the fundamentals, and take control of your eating habits without stress or anxiety.

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The Crazy-Busy Parent's Guide to Training and Staying Fit with Bryan Boorstein | Ep 223

Are you a busy parent struggling to stay fit while juggling school runs, work, and family? Do you wonder if it's possible to reclaim your pre-kids fitness? How can you balance your health goals with parenthood? Philip chats with returning guest Bryan Boorstein, founder of Evolve Training Systems and Paragon Training Methods. Bryan,  a fitness coach with 25+ years of experience and a parent himself, shares how busy parents can maintain and surpass their fitness goals.

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This Quick Change Will Help You Stick to Your Fat Loss Meal Plan (Kaizen) | Ep 222

Struggling to stick to your fat loss meal plan? Or any nutrition plan? Learn how the engineering concept of Kaizen – continuous improvement through small changes – can revolutionize your approach to nutrition and fat loss. To celebrate National Cooking Day (September 25), this episode challenges you to make ONE quick change this week that will set off a chain reaction of positive habits. It will gradually upgrade your "sustainability system" to give you results (rather than completely overhauling your diet overnight).

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The Hidden Reason You're Skipping Gym Workouts (It's Not Laziness) | Ep 221

Do you skip the gym, even though you know how amazing you’ll feel afterward? Have you set fitness goals but can't seem to stay consistent with your workouts? Philip dives into the hidden psychological reasons why motivation is elusive and why it’s not about laziness or willpower.  He covers the science of motivation, the misalignment between goals and actions, and how to form lasting habits that make showing up for your workouts easier. Philip also shares practical tips to hack your brain for success. Whether you're a seasoned lifter hitting a motivation wall or a newbie trying to build a gym habit, you'll learn to reframe your mindset, focus on immediate rewards, and build systems for effortless consistency.

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How to Lift Heavy, Run Fast, and Train as a Hybrid Athlete with Cody McBroom | Ep 220

Are you torn between focusing on strength or endurance? Are you wondering if you can lift heavy while building stamina? Or maybe you’re struggling to find a way to improve both without sacrificing one? Philip brings back Cody McBroom to show you how you can excel in strength and endurance without sacrificing either! If you're ready to optimize your training for both muscle growth and cardiovascular performance while setting high standards in every area of life, this will give you the blueprint to make it happen.

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How to Avoid Losing Muscle, Especially On Ozempic and Weight Loss Drugs (Sensor Damping) | Ep 219

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic can be incredibly effective, but they risk muscle loss due to appetite suppression, which leads to a much larger calorie deficit. And even if you're NOT on GLP-1 drugs, your hunger signals can still be misleading at times, especially when they are psychological and not always physical.

You'll learn about the engineering concept of Sensor Damping to understand why relying solely on hunger cues can sabotage your muscle-building efforts, whether you're on medication or not. 

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What Causes Stubborn Midlife Belly Fat (It's Not What You Think) | Ep 218

Do you ever wonder why that stubborn belly fat won’t budge, even with a solid diet and workout routine? Are you in your 40s, 50s, or beyond and noticing changes in your midsection that weren't there before? Philip reveals the real reasons behind midlife belly fat—and it’s more than just calories in versus calories out. Get ready to dive deep into the science of belly fat, and walk away with actionable strategies to take control of your health and physique without the typical advice that doesn’t work.

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How to Reduce Midlife Back Pain and Joint Inflammation Over 40 with Megan Dahlman | Ep 217

Are you struggling with midlife back pain or joint inflammation that just won’t go away? Have you tried everything from painkillers to chiropractors but still find yourself in pain? Do you want to regain control of your body and stay active well into your later years? Philip brings back fitness expert Megan Dahlman to discuss the root causes of persistent back pain, why it’s not an inevitable part of aging, and how to live pain-free at any age. Megan shares actionable strategies to address back pain and joint inflammation to help you set the foundation for a stronger, pain-free body. If you’re tired of feeling limited by back pain, this conversation will empower you with practical steps to live an active, fulfilling life.

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Collagen Protein Does NOT Build Muscle (Bayesian Inference) | Ep 216

Collagen protein has been hyped as a muscle-building supplement, especially for older adults, but does it really deliver? In this episode, we use Bayesian Inference – a powerful statistical tool – to evaluate the latest research on collagen's effectiveness for muscle growth. Learn how to apply Bayesian thinking to fitness claims and make smarter decisions about your nutrition and training. Discover why you might need to rethink your protein supplement strategy and how to optimize your protein intake for real muscle gains.

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Your Genetics ARE to Blame for Weight Gain and Body Fat with Dr. Stephan Guyenet | Ep 214

Are you frustrated by the stubborn body fat that won't come off despite all your efforts? Do you ever wonder if it's all due to lack of discipline, or could there be a deeper reason? And how much do your genetics actually play a role in your fat loss journey? Philip dives into the fascinating world of neuroscience and body composition with special guest Dr. Stephan Guyenet, a neuroscientist, obesity researcher, and author of The Hungry Brain. They explore the science behind why some people struggle more than others to lose weight and how genetics might be the hidden force shaping your body fat levels. Dr. Guyenet also breaks down how the brain’s reward system influences your cravings and reveals how minor tweaks to your environment and habits can make a huge difference in your fat loss efforts.

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The Proven Formula for an Amazing Physique Transformation (Iterative Design) | Ep 213

Ask yourself a very honest question: is what I'm doing working? Is my training, my nutrition, all the things actually giving me the physique that I want, whether that's being lean and muscular or big and strong? If you're like most people, you start with initial excitement and motivation, followed by hitting one roadblock after another, not quite getting what you want, eventually giving up and then hopping to the next thing. Learn about the engineering concept of iterative design and how it can help you constantly improve and overcome the plateaus and roadblocks common to physique development.

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The TRUTH About Strength and Muscle Loss During a Cut | Ep 212

Are you ready to get lean but worried about losing your hard-earned strength and muscle? Are you concerned that cutting calories might set back your progress in the gym? Do you want to know the real impact of a cut on your body and how to avoid the pitfalls? Philip breaks down the science behind strength and muscle loss during a calorie deficit, revealing how to maintain your gains while shedding fat. He answers a listener's question on how strength loss during a cut might not always be due to muscle loss. He outlines strategies for preserving muscle and strength, from maintaining training intensity to optimizing protein intake, and explains why most strength loss is temporary.

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Macros vs. Intuitive Eating with the Godfather of Flexible Dieting, Dr. Joe Klemczewski | Ep 211

Should you count every macro or just eat what feels right? Is there a way to enjoy your favorite foods without sabotaging your goals? Philip teams up with Dr. Joe Klemczewski, the godfather of flexible dieting, to shatter diet myths and reveal the truth about what really works. Whether you're an experienced macro tracker or just beginning your nutrition journey, you'll discover how to balance structure and freedom in your diet to enjoy food while aligning with your physique goals. Tune in to get the clarity you need to personalize your nutrition strategy.

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Add THIS To Your Diet to Optimize Fat Loss, Energy, and More (Buffer Systems) | Ep 210

Does fat loss feel harder than it needs to be? Do you experience energy crashes throughout the day, maybe even constant hunger? What if I told you there's a simple addition to your diet that could solve most of these problems? No, it's not protein... it's a nutrient that often overlooked yet found in many delicious foods. Today, we're taking a concept from chemical engineering called buffer systems and showing you why this nutrient works the same way in your body. By adding this in, you can optimize your fat loss, stabilize your energy, and improve your overall health. 

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How to Eat Healthy When Your Family Doesn't Have the Same Fitness Goals | Ep 209

Are you trying to eat healthy, but your family’s eating habits are making it difficult? Are you constantly torn between reaching your fitness goals and keeping your loved ones happy? If navigating mealtime feels like a struggle between your ambitions and their preferences, you’re not alone. Philip explores the common dilemma of trying to eat healthy when your family doesn’t share the same goals. Philip shares practical strategies for staying on track with your nutrition while maintaining harmony at home. Whether you’re dealing with a spouse who loves junk food, picky kids, or traditional calorie-laden family recipes, he offers three powerful strategies to help you.

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Diet Soda Is Good For You | Ep 208

Have you heard that diet soda is harmful or causes weight gain? What if we told you it might actually help in your fat loss journey? PHilip dives deep into the controversial world of diet soda with his friends Dustin Lambert and Dwayne Ulrich from the Working Weights LLC podcast. They’ll explore how these fizzy, zero-calorie drinks can fit into a smart nutrition plan, debunk myths about artificial sweeteners, and examine the surprising health benefits of diet soda. 

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How Your Spaces Are Sabotaging Your Fat Loss (The 6S Method) | Ep 207

Can your environment be the secret weapon to achieving your fitness goals? Learn how the 6S method from engineering can revolutionize your journey towards a lean physique. You can transform your kitchen and gym into powerful allies. We dive into the nitty-gritty of reducing friction and making small yet impactful changes to support your meal and workout plans.

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