The Hammer Cast

The Hammer Cast

Real strength. No fluff. 514 episodes.

514 episodes and counting. Every week, Aleks sits down with some of the strongest, most experienced coaches and athletes on the planet to bring you no-nonsense training knowledge you can use today.

Ep. 373: #1 Most Popular Kettlebell Drill You're Very Possibly Doing All Wrong

February 5, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I want to talk about one of the most popular kettlebell moves that everyone agrees is great, but very few do right… And, of course, I could just give it away here in the description box, but why do that? Just listen in and find…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

I want to talk about one of the most popular kettlebell moves that everyone agrees is great, but very few do right…

And, of course, I could just give it away here in the description box, but why do that? Just listen in and find out.

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Ep. 372: Just Quit Already

February 4, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I wouldn't say I'm feeling dour or pessimistic by writing an article with such a title, but you know what? Sometimes you've just gotta forget the spoonful of sugar and dole out the medicine. So I'll say it like this: If you're still talking about…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

I wouldn’t say I’m feeling dour or pessimistic by writing an article with such a title, but you know what? Sometimes you’ve just gotta forget the spoonful of sugar and dole out the medicine. So I’ll say it like this:

If you’re still talking about all the changes you’re gonna make this year (and haven’t taken any meaningful steps toward them), just quit already.

But if you’re NOT ready to throw in the towel…well, then listen on.

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Ep. 371: Aleks, Pat Flynn, and Al Kavadlo Talk About How to STOP Overthinking Fitness

February 3, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Is THIS the most ambitious crossover episode ever? Aleks Salkin, Pat Flynn, AND Al Kavadlo all in the same place? You're not dreaming, pal. It's real, and it's spectacular. Listen in as we tell YOU about how to stop overthinking your fitness so you can…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

Is THIS the most ambitious crossover episode ever? Aleks Salkin, Pat Flynn, AND Al Kavadlo all in the same place? You’re not dreaming, pal. It’s real, and it’s spectacular. Listen in as we tell YOU about how to stop overthinking your fitness so you can get busy getting the gains you so desperately crave.

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Ep. 370: The Inside Scoop on Breaking Your Plateaus, Working Around Injuries, and More (Part 1)

February 2, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I get lots of questions sent my way through various channels: email, social media, singing telegram, etc. And no matter where they come from, I always do my level best to answer as many such questions as I get. This podcast takes a couple of…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

I get lots of questions sent my way through various channels: email, social media, singing telegram, etc. And no matter where they come from, I always do my level best to answer as many such questions as I get. This podcast takes a couple of people’s burning questions and gives them some soothing answers. Listen in, and feel free to send your own questions my way as well.

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Ep. 369: Serious About Getting Fit in 2023? Then you MUST Do THIS.

February 1, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Some of the greatest questions in life are also those that cut deepest into the human psyche and reveal untold mysteries of the human condition. "What is the meaning of life?" "To be, or not to be?" "Boxers or briefs?" And when it comes to…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

Some of the greatest questions in life are also those that cut deepest into the human psyche and reveal untold mysteries of the human condition.

“What is the meaning of life?”

“To be, or not to be?”

“Boxers or briefs?”

And when it comes to training, there is another question that has cut in another direction; a direction that people since time immemorial have been grappling with:

“Hacks” or hard work?

I aim to answer this question (and more) on this episode.

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Ep. 368: ER Dr. Judson Corn on Conquering Asthma, Dominating Kettlebells and Cals, & Saving Lives

January 31, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I'm joined on this fine episode by Dr. Judson Corn – an ER doctor, life-long fitness enthusiast, and avid member of my Inner Circle and all-around crusher of weakness. We talked about a great many epic things on this splendiferous episode, including: * How he…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

I’m joined on this fine episode by Dr. Judson Corn – an ER doctor, life-long fitness enthusiast, and avid member of my Inner Circle and all-around crusher of weakness. We talked about a great many epic things on this splendiferous episode, including: * How he suffered from – and ultimately overcame – asthma as a child * His journey from outdoor sports and activities to strength training * How frustration in his efforts toward greater gains led him to Yours Jewly – and how my programs helped him crush weakness and conquer gravity in ways he never thougth possible * Some of the crazy stuff he’s seen and saved people from in the ER * Much, much more This is one episode you won’t want to miss!

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 of them.

How?

By harnessing the power of your body’s gait pattern (i.e. walking pattern) to unleash the strength ALREADY hidden inside you — via movements like crawling, loaded carries, and more.

Even cooler:

Many find that it actually amplifies their strength in their favorite kettlebell and bodyweight moves, like presses, squats, pull-ups, and more.

And best of all, it’s free.

How free?

I’m talkin’ freer than the 4th of July, my friend.

Get thee thine own copy here => http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

Have fun and happy training!

Aleks Salkin

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Ep. 367: 6 Ways to Kick-Start Your Long-Stalled Strength Results

January 30, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I field a lot of questions from people who like to work out at home/on their own — both beginner and intermediate in their strength endeavors — and probably the single commonest problem I encounter is that of stalled results. The thing to keep in…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

I field a lot of questions from people who like to work out at home/on their own — both beginner and intermediate in their strength endeavors — and probably the single commonest problem I encounter is that of stalled results.

The thing to keep in mind is that your body doesn’t really care about your goals — it only cares about homeostasis (i.e. internal stability). It will only make changes when you thoroughly convince it that these changes are necessary for survival. This is a pretty major oversimplification, but for our purposes it gets the point across.

Your results can stall out for a number of reasons, and rather than just list them all, I want to pose a few questions to you to see where you stand or where perhaps you’ve fallen and need to pick back up.

And naturally, I pose those questions on this podcast. Listen in and enjoy!

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Ep. 366: One Small Problem with Kettlebells (and How to Fix It)

January 28, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Before you get too triggered by the headline of this article, let me just start by saying I love the kettlebell. I really, really do. This year marked 14 years since I first picked up a kettlebell, and it has seriously changed my life for…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

Before you get too triggered by the headline of this article, let me just start by saying I love the kettlebell. I really, really do. This year marked 14 years since I first picked up a kettlebell, and it has seriously changed my life for the better.

It has led me by the hand(le) on some pretty incredible journeys — from enthusiastic student to budding teacher to globe-hopping workshop giver-type-guy and beyond. It’s been truly amazing.

In this time, I’ve learned a lot about what the kettlebell can do — and I’ve also learned about what it can’t do. Or perhaps more to the point, what it doesn’t do. If you’re creative in your training (and you should be!) the kettlebell can be used to continually drive your progress boldly forward, but you can’t be conventional with how you use it (or not solely conventional, that is).

From my experience, the main problem with the kettlebell is that it lulls you down an overly predictable path with the two primary advantages it gives you, the exerciser.

What are they, and how can you make sure you can actually still make gains in your training?

Guess what, dawg: that’s exactly what this episode is about. So STOP reading and start listening already!

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Ep. 365: Is 'Greasing the Groove' Any Good for Your Strength?

January 27, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com All right, let's get to the question that is on everyone's mind (or maybe it isn't, I don't know): Is Greasing the Groove any good? Greasing the Groove, in case you didn't know, is the act of practicing a strength movement throughout the day at…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

All right, let’s get to the question that is on everyone’s mind (or maybe it isn’t, I don’t know): Is Greasing the Groove any good?

Greasing the Groove, in case you didn’t know, is the act of practicing a strength movement throughout the day at VERY reasonable levels. For example, if you could do, say, 10 reps of a given exercise, you would stick between 3–5 reps, and you would do 1 set maybe every 30 minutes to 2 hours.

And you don’t just do it willy-nilly, either. You have to be laser focused on the technique and overall execution of the exercise to really get good at it.

I break down some of the best ways to Grease the Groove to Greater Gains in this episode.

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Ep. 364: How to (Almost) Double Your Strength in a Few Weeks

January 26, 2023

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com "Life is not a journey. Life is a process." — Dan Pena Pena is a success coach known as the 50 Billion Dollar Man — a man who grew up dirt poor in East LA and went on to become worth half a billion dollars…

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Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com

“Life is not a journey. Life is a process.” — Dan Pena

Pena is a success coach known as the 50 Billion Dollar Man — a man who grew up dirt poor in East LA and went on to become worth half a billion dollars through grit and determination and has coached so many students to success that their combined net worth is now said to be 50 billion dollars (hence his moniker).

Pena’s quote really stuck with me, because it perfectly encapsulates success as a whole, including in strength and fitness endeavors — it’s not a “journey” (unless you like spinning your wheels and don’t care where you go). It’s a process.

And not just ANY process — it’s a process that has to have two things – both of which (and much more) I dive into on this podcast.

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