How was Eric Trexler's summer break?

Eric had a restful summer break. He traveled for work for the first time since COVID-19, presenting at the Stronger Together Fitness Conference in Seattle. He also did a lot of paddle boarding, prepared his Toyota RAV4 for camping, and joined a Buddhist sangha for study and practice.

How was Greg Knuckles' summer break?

Greg took a few trips, including an anniversary trip with his wife and a visit to Pinehurst. He also appeared on Dave Tate's Table Talk podcast and focused on content creation, significantly increasing his output of high-quality long-form articles.

What is an example of a 'freak athlete' Eric has encountered?

Eric recounts a friend from high school, 'Easy,' who moved from Nigeria. Originally skinny, Easy gained 60 pounds of muscle in 18 months once he started eating properly and lifting, achieving NFL combine numbers in vertical jump and 40-yard dash despite being uncoordinated.

How many NFL athletes would make the Olympia stage if bodybuilding were the primary sport?

Eric estimates that between 10 and 13, with a best guess of 12, of current NFL athletes could make the Olympia stage. He believes that naturally gifted physical specimens are often filtered into the NFL due to its cultural impact.

Is Eric a dog person or a cat person?

Eric used to consider himself strictly a dog person who disliked cats. However, after living with his girlfriend's cat, Izzy, he has grown to appreciate cats' peculiar personalities and now enjoys their daily cuddle routine.

What is Greg's experience with pets?

Greg has a 10-year-old high-energy Tibetan Terrier mix dog named Oswald, who hates gym noise but insists on joining workouts. Greg was once a 'cat person' but became severely allergic to cats due to prolonged exposure in college.

Which country did Greg find cooler than America and why?

Greg found Iceland the coolest country due to its remarkably well-run society despite geographical disadvantages. He noted its high living standards, low poverty, and Reykjavik being a beautiful, walkable city.

Which would Greg give up: gluten or dairy?

Greg would definitely give up gluten. He enjoys cooking with gluten but doesn't particularly love most gluten-containing foods like bread, and rice is his staple carbohydrate. He would deeply miss dairy-based desserts like cheesecake and ice cream.

Which would Eric give up: gluten or dairy?

Eric is in the process of giving up dairy, transitioning to a dairy-free diet for animal welfare reasons, noting he wouldn't miss it much. He implies that giving up both gluten and dairy would be extremely challenging for him.

What kind of technology does Greg reject?

Greg explicitly rejects the Instant Pot and Air Fryer, viewing them as pointless gadgets if one already has an oven, stove, and pressure cooker. He considers them slick marketing for devices that duplicate existing kitchen functions.

What are Greg's top three favorite podcasts?

Greg's favorite podcasts are 'Five to Four' (US Supreme Court podcast), 'Knowledge Fight' (comedians covering Alex Jones), and 'QAnon Anonymous' (covering the broader conspiracy griftosphere). He prefers non-fitness content for unwinding.

Fireside Chat 11: Freak athletes, pets, luxury items, alternative careers, podcast recommendations

Stronger By Science

Sports4 min read93 min video

Aug 25, 2022|3,895 views|166|39

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Greg and Eric discuss freak athletes, pets, luxury items, alternative careers, and podcast recommendations.

Key Insights

Freak athletes often possess rare, innate physical gifts that manifest even without optimized training.

Personal preferences for pets can evolve, with many initially favoring dogs but developing appreciation for cats.

Modern technology adoption varies; some prefer sticking to familiar methods over new gadgets like air fryers.

Alternative career paths reveal a strong inclination towards entrepreneurship and avoiding traditional hierarchical structures.

Podcast listening habits lean towards entertainment and diverse topics as a way to "unplug" from work-related content.

Travel experiences highlight the appeal of well-functioning societies and unique natural beauty in other countries.

Dietary choices can be influenced by personal discovery and ethical considerations rather than solely performance.

THE PHENOMENON OF FREAK ATHLETES

The conversation delves into the concept of "freak athletes," individuals with extraordinary innate physical abilities. Stories are shared about NFL players like Maurice Jones-Drew, who altered training based on perceived impacts on performance, and a high school friend who dramatically transformed his physique and athletic capabilities simply by learning to eat adequately. These examples highlight how genetic potential, when unlocked by basic needs like proper nutrition, can lead to exceptional, almost unbelievable, athletic outcomes, sometimes even surpassing those achieved through highly optimized training regimes.

PERSONAL LIFE AND PET PREFERENCES

The hosts discuss their personal lives, including summer breaks and their relationships with animals. Eric shares his new appreciation for cats, specifically his cat Izzy, a departure from his previously held belief that he was strictly a dog person. Greg, despite allergies, also expresses affection for cats and shares his humorous interactions with frogs near his pool. Both acknowledge the unique personalities of different animals and the personal joy they bring, with Greg's dog Oswald serving as a dedicated, albeit seemingly reluctant, home gym companion. The discussion touches on how personal experiences can shape preferences.

TRAVEL EXPERIENCES AND SOCIETAL OBSERVATIONS

Reflecting on travel, both hosts found Iceland to be particularly impressive. Eric highlights its remarkably well-run society and high standard of living despite geographical and resource limitations, contrasting it with America's abundance. Greg echoes these sentiments, praising Iceland's natural beauty and societal organization, and also mentions a positive experience in Finland, noting the quiet, polite culture. These observations suggest an appreciation for functional societies and captivating natural landscapes as key elements of desirable travel destinations.

DIETARY CHOICES: GLUTEN VS. DAIRY

When faced with the hypothetical choice of giving up gluten or dairy, the hosts reveal differing but reasoned preferences. Greg leans towards giving up gluten, finding it culinarily less essential than dairy, particularly for his enjoyment of desserts like ice cream and cheesecake. Eric, conversely, is in the process of giving up dairy for ethical reasons related to animal welfare, noting it's already a minimal part of his diet. Both agree that avoiding both would be significantly more challenging, leading to a more restrictive diet focused on staples like rice and tofu.

LUXURY ITEMS AND UNCONVENTIONAL CHOICES

The discussion shifts to luxury items, revealing surprisingly practical choices. Both hosts find value in high-quality computers, essential for their work. Eric also emphasizes the importance of a reliable and safe car, justifying his investment in a modern vehicle for safety on challenging roads. Greg, contrary to his frugal nature, admits to appreciating high-quality large bath sheets, finding them a significant comfort upgrade. These selections highlight how perceived value and personal needs can drive the definition of a 'luxury' item.

ALTERNATIVE CAREERS AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESISTANCE

Contemplating alternative life paths, Greg expresses regret over not pursuing engineering or computer science due to a dislike for advanced math, instead majoring in history before switching. He also expresses a strong aversion to traditional employment with bosses, preferring entrepreneurship. Eric considered physical therapy before entering the fitness industry and was once close to becoming a professor. Both also share a resistance to certain modern gadgets, like air fryers and Instant Pots, preferring traditional cooking methods and highlighting a general disinterest in accumulating new technology.

FIGHT SCENARIO AND CAMPFIRE TECHNIQUES

A hypothetical fight scenario is posed: a Greg-sized Eric versus an Eric-sized Greg. Greg believes Eric would win due to a combination of size and wrestling/bouncer experience. The conversation then shifts to practical skills, with a discussion on campfire building. Greg prefers a 'square chimney' method for optimal airflow and ignition, starting small and gradually increasing the size of the wood, acknowledging his own need to improve this skill for upcoming camping trips.

PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS AND LISTENING HABITS

For podcast recommendations beyond the obvious, Greg suggests "Five to Four" (a Supreme Court podcast), "Knowledge Fight" (covering Alex Jones), and "QAnon Anonymous" (discussing conspiracy theories), emphasizing their entertainment value. Eric enjoys "The Ezra Klein Show," "Hidden Brain," "Freakonomics," and NPR, particularly "Fresh Air" and "Marketplace," for insights into human behavior, psychology, and economics. Both agree on avoiding fitness-related podcasts during leisure time to maintain a fresh perspective on research and disconnect from work.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

The podcast is trying out a new three-camera system and other under-the-hood changes for their setup, aiming for a more visually interesting episode experience on YouTube.

Topics

Gluten Campfires

Mentioned in this video

organizationSangha

A group of people with whom one studies, practices, and meditates in Buddhism. Eric recently found one that resonates with him.

mediaUnexplainable

A podcast Eric listens to, described as more STEM-related.

bookWheat Belly

A book mentioned by Eric when discussing gluten, to which Greg humorously clarifies he has not read nor is he terrified of gluten.

personAaron Donald

NFL player mentioned as a 'mass monster' with the potential to place highly at the Olympia if he focused on bodybuilding.

personMyles Garrett

NFL player described as 'crazy' and capable of placing top 10 at the Olympia with dedicated training and peptide use, if not for drug testing.

mediaDave Tate's Table Talk Podcast

A podcast where Greg was a guest, finding the facility fantastic and Dave Tate a nice person.

conceptOlympia

The highest professional bodybuilding competition, discussed in the context of how many NFL athletes could potentially compete at that level.

mediaMarketplace

A podcast hosted by Kai Ryssdal, admired by Greg for its host's speaking cadence.

organizationStronger Together Fitness Conference

A fitness conference in Seattle where Eric presented, marking his first work-related travel since the COVID-19 lockdown.

personOsi Umenyiora

Former defensive end for the New York Giants, mentioned as a relative of a 'freak athlete' friend from high school, highlighting genetic predispositions.

locationReykjavik

The capital city of Iceland, described as a beautiful and walkable city with easy accessibility.

mediaThe Way Out Is In

One of Eric's preferred podcasts for learning about Buddhism when he needs to pay close attention to nuanced content.

locationColumbus

City Greg visited to do Dave Tate's Table Talk podcast, where he describes the facility as 'sick' and the host as a nice guy.

personJosh Klein

A 275-280 pound wrestler and football player who moved with incredible agility, later playing in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl.

mediaFresh Air with Terry Gross

An NPR show Greg particularly enjoys due to Terry Gross's lack of social boundaries as an interviewer.

productAir Fryer

A modern kitchen gadget that Greg rejects, claiming it's merely a convection oven and doesn't produce results comparable to deep frying, questioning its necessity.

mediaFreakonomics

A podcast Eric listens to, exploring various topics through an economic lens.

productToyota RAV4

The car model both hosts own. Eric specifically uses his for camping, and Greg highlights its modern safety features.

mediaBrian Stelter's show on CNN

A national media show where the hosts of 'Knowledge Fight' made an appearance just before its cancellation.

productInstant Pot

A modern kitchen gadget that Greg rejects, viewing it as pointless if one already has a stove and pressure cooker, but acknowledging its utility for those without an oven/stove.

softwareKnowledge Fight

softwareQAnon Anonymous

softwareFive to Four

toolDraftKings