Hey there , wits and Weights family Philip here with a quick bonus episode because I need your help to shape the future of the podcast . Now that we've kicked off 2025 , I wanna make sure Wits and Weights keeps delivering the kind of content you love , whether it's strategies for building muscle , breaking down nutrition science or the deep dives into mindset that help you just crush your goals for the year . Now , to do that , I've put together a Wits and Weights 2025 podcast listener survey . It's quick , it's easy . Your feedback is incredibly , incredibly valuable , and I want to know what you enjoy . What do you want more of ? What do you want less of ? How can I make the show even better for you ? And then , to show my appreciation , 10 lucky participants are going to win a free month of access to Wits and Weights Physique University , and that means all of the things you get in there . If you were a pain member , you'll get right from day one , a custom nutrition plan , personalized workout programs , live coaching calls , onboarding courses , community everything for free for 30 days . I cancel any time , of course as always , no pressure , so I encourage you to take it . I'm going to include a link to the survey in the show notes , but what's cool is I've already got a number probably at least a dozen results , or what should I say responses , after opening the survey just a few days ago and seeing some really interesting feedback , and so I wanted to share some of that today just as a little teaser . Eventually , I'm going to do an episode of the whole breakdown of the results , which I think will be interesting . And , more importantly , how is it going to affect what you learn here ? And I want to make sure that I share a taste of that first , so that if you haven't done the survey yet , you can go do it and say you know what ? Philip didn't mention this . I want to mention that .
Philip PapeSo just a few things . First of all , people talked about some things that they want more or less of , and there are a couple interesting ideas . One is advocating for a longer solo episode instead of the two shorter episodes . So I have three episodes a week . I have a kind of a deep dive on Monday , but they're not always that long , sometimes they're 20 , 30 minutes . I have an engineering related kind of framework episode on Wednesday , which tends to be on the shorter end , and then I have the interview on Friday and that's . That's more like an hour long , although like one long and one short podcast per week . I don't know if they meant total or in addition to the guest episode . So I'm really thinking on that . If you have a strong opinion on that , definitely take the survey and let me know .
Philip PapeNow , as far as topics that you want more of , I'm going to throw some of these out in case this resonates with you , and I'm probably going to make episodes on some of these . Training and nutrition over 60 , right , the reality of aging on lifting I've talked about that here and there . I had an episode called over 50 . Oh , I forget what it was called , but it was like training for over 50 , not long ago . So if you're newer to the podcast and you take the survey and you want to see a topic , I would say also , go to my website witsandweightscom , click podcast and you can search for older episodes , just in case we already covered it . Another one was more on older women's strength training , gaining muscle but potentially looking fat and looking bulky . So that's good . I can address that . Examples of how things worked or didn't work from people or yourself . I'm thinking of doing more . I don't wanna say case studies , but it'll be in the format of my normal podcast episode , but maybe breaking down from an example of somebody's real training program or nutrition , whether it's my clients myself or what I've had clients on . I know you like some of those episodes as well , but I want to make sure it really hits hard on a topic and a problem that you want to learn about Vacation strategies , how to keep consistent when not at home . Building phases for women Somebody would love to hear from a female who's completed a successful build and cut Running and health , lifting for longevity , bodybuilder and bikini models . How to use my hunger guide Actually , I think I'm going to do an episode on that very soon . So those are just a sample of topics people want more of .
Philip PapeAnd then I ask people what did you do as a result of the podcast so far ? And we have a variety of things . I started tracking . I eat a lot more protein . I eat more carbs . I'm not fasting anymore . I know how to structure my year now to cut in bulk . I know how to modify my diet and training and track more um adding more carbs back in , increasing steps rather than worrying too much about cardio and focusing on lifting instead , and the list goes on . There's a lot about , like eating more carbs . I love that . Uh , more carbs , more fiber , feeling better . And then what's missing from the podcast . Um , I now just to be just to brag a little .
Philip PapeThere were a bunch that said nothing , which I appreciate that . You said , oh , nothing's missing , I love it , okay , great . And there were others that gave me an answer on things they'd like to see more of . Somebody said maybe a co-host . I don't see that in the cards at all . I have done some co-hosted episodes . I'm going to do something interesting this year where some of the guests that I have we're going to do a like a half and half episode and have half of it on one , half of it on each other's podcast , so effectively we're like interviewing each other and then we'll have it on the other podcasts . Um , that might be cool , but it's not really a cohost per se , but but it'll be more in that format instead of just one sided . Yeah , uh , someone said this is the longest podcast that I listened to .
Philip PapeIt focuses more on building muscle and less on your stage in life . This is fine with me , so that's interesting . I don't know if there's something I should get out of that in terms of well , if it doesn't focus on your stage in life . What does that mean ? Maybe they mean like it's not just for over 50 or just for over 40 , which I try to make a little more universal . And then , when I work with clients , I generally work with men and women in their thirties , forties and beyond . Uh , but I don't . I don't , like you know , pigeonholing too much , because some of these problems can affect people of all ages . Um , another thing somebody wants to see is depth of experience . Now , I don't know if they mean me and they feel like I'm not experienced , but they said doctors , lifting coaches , gym owners , personal experience with Barbell Logic , nikki Sims oh , actually Nikki Sims is going to be on the podcast guys from Barbell Logic , so we're going to be recording not too long from now . And then they said other interests economics , poker , philosophy , mindfulness . I don't know if I'm going to do that
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Philip PapeA lot of people said what they liked about the show is the lack of banter and tangential fluff , and I don't have a cohost , so I don't have like this back and forth . I do talk a little bit about me and my clients and my family and all that , but I try to keep it more on topic and I think a lot of you like that . But it's good to know that you might be interested in what goes on in my brain and kind of other things that I'm interested in as we go along , so I'll keep that in mind . Um , someone said aspects of family life or travel dynamics that pop up with kids , you're sick , et cetera , and I agree there's specific problems I try to cover .
Philip PapeWhat I found is if I go too narrow , like if I talk about kids , the , the , the listening goes drops way off because not everybody has kids or is interested . And then that's fine if the people that really need to hear it do listen to it . But I also have to be careful that it resonates with the overall audience as well . Um , let's see , I don't want Wits and Wits to incorporate everything . I listened to it because of what Philip specializes in Cool , appreciate that . And then maybe a lifting Q and a um this person was talking about . They like how mind pump answers , all these Q and A's related to lifting Um .
Philip PapeI do tend to talk a lot more about nutrition , but I'll make sure to include um more lifting related episodes as well . And then , what do people like the most ? Um and and again . This is not to brag , it's more of like what should I lean into ? And there are a couple of surprises here to me , to be honest . So it comes across as completely honest . Not trying to sell me things all the time Good , I do try to sell you things . Sometimes I get it which you all know . This is a business , um , and when I do talk about coaching it is usually in the context of the topic , right , like kind of tying those together , um , and we don't have sponsors or anything like that .
Philip PapeSomeone said it's not a bunch of rambling and repetition . Information comes from a source I know I can trust . More depth , less chatter . Now , I really love this comment . I want to thank the person who submitted this . Production value . For sure , wits and Weights is the best produced , planned , easiest to follow , hosted , best agenda , tight and on topic . That is a huge standard to live up to . All I can say is thank you . I'm not going to turn down the compliment . I have my own insecurities and doubts and always want to grow , but I appreciate that that is what it is for you , because that is what I strive to do . So I love that .
Philip PapeSecondary is always the positive , solution-oriented , engineering approach to topics that you take , which is lacking from other health and lifting podcasts Great , the engineering thing . Let me tell you I'm always worried I'm going to lose people , not because I think you guys aren't intelligent , it's more of the way I think about things , sometimes a little quirky or offbeat , or it doesn't make sense when it comes out of my mouth to others , but then maybe it does . So if something's completely confusing , just send me a message and let me know . Reach out to me on Instagram , at witsandweights , and there's multiple other ways to contact me in the show notes . Someone said there's a lot of variety and options to communicate . The Facebook group plus podcast is an amazing combo . So , yeah , if you're not aware of the Facebook group or in it , definitely join the links in the show notes to that . That's free , but it's really cool because a lot of people listen , are also there and so you can . Who think in that way that very open , flexible and engineering data-driven way . Let's see , info is not generalized . There's always one way or the other depending on your needs . Yeah , for sure , I try to make sure you know that things need to be personalized and there's not a one-size-fits-all .
Philip PapeI like Philip's personality . He's fun but also shares the science without being boring . Okay , good to know . No hype BS . I like the honest and sincere tone . No nonsense , research-based material . Most of all , I know that your podcasts are like essays . That's pretty cool . We're trying to teach our daughters to write essays . Actually , I like that . There's little tangential waste of time and I can actually listen to it within a commute in the car or on a walk Okay , cool . And then the last part . I hope this episode isn't too long for you guys . What would you miss the most if the podcast went away tomorrow ? Tear emoji .
Philip PapeI wrote the question in a very emotional way . If you take the survey , you'll see what I mean . So here's what some people said , and this really hits me at the heart and this is why I'm grateful to all of you and I'm like on the verge of tears when I read this stuff , because it's just really validating what we do here and I'm glad that it resonates with folks . You said honest appreciation to nutrition and weights and weight nutrition and weights , nutrition and weights , your practical approach , positive energy , insight , your energy and kind heart . And if I lost the podcast , it would be the loss of a podcast that was a sincere and empowering vehicle .
Philip PapeThe honesty thing right there is probably the most important thing to me besides the positive energy . I try to be positive , for sure , in everything I do . But honesty is important , and by honesty , to me that's not just obviously it's telling the truth and having integrity , but it's also it's not sugarcoating . It's , um , trying to be nuanced and acknowledge what I know but also don't know , and then allow my , my thoughts and opinions to evolve as I learn and grow along with you . And I think you guys know I've been a coach for about five years now .
Philip PapeI don't hang my hat on credentials or longevity . Um , before that I was an engineer for 20 years , so very different field . And yet on the podcast I talk about nutrition and lifting . But I've learned and I've stood on the shoulders of so many giants in this field and I love absorbing the information and becoming self-educated in that respect . And then I've had the chance of working with hundreds of clients now , which has been the best education of all and hearing from you listeners . So the honesty I hope comes through in you know I'm not . I'm not like a 22 year old influencer just trying to constantly sell you stuff , like that's not the thing . This is very much a passion of mine . First and foremost . It is still a side hustle again , to be honest about it , and yet I give my all and I hope you got that . So , um , I won't drag this on anymore , but the survey the podcast listener survey for 2025 is open until the end of January , so they used to have a few weeks left .
Philip PapeBut don't wait . Click the link in the show notes or head to no . Just click the link in the show notes . I don't have a . The link is a Google link . It's complicated . Click the link in the show notes . Your feedback . It doesn't just shape the podcast . I think it strengthens our community because it helps me feel where the threads are connected between all of us . We're all part of this journey . Together , we're all trying to do the right thing in the right way for us and support each other . So I can't wait to hear from you . I really hope you take the survey , whether you want to win the prize or not . I actually ask you a question about whether you want to opt in or not for the , for the raffle for the um free access to what's always physique university . So don't feel pressured on that . And that's it right , so I will see you next time . Please take the survey , the links in .