Health Is A Skill with Todd Vande Hei
Welcome to the Health is a Skill podcast with host Todd Vande Hei! Todd is the CEO of Stark, which exists to change the future of health and fitness in the communities they serve. For the last 15 years, Todd has been on a journey to discover what it means to be in a state of peak health. After suffering from a series of seizures and being diagnosed with high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation in his early 30’s, Todd decided it was time to make a change. Those changes fell into one of four categories: lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, and stress management. But the biggest thing Todd learned through it all? Health is a skill. You’re not born with it, like some would like you to believe, and it isn’t acquired by simply buying another product or starting that new diet. Health is something you can create for yourself, and over time it is possible to attain peak health.
Episodes
46 episodes
From Meds & Merlot to Macros & Muscle: Alison Wayne at 55
Ten years ago Alison Wayne measured health by the bathroom scale and a nightly glass of wine.Today the 55-year-old mom of three rings PR bells, sleeps migraine-free and wears two sizes smaller while weighing 20 lbs more.Host Tod...
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Episode 67
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1:04:55
From “Thin-Not-Strong” to Surf, Summits & Mid-Life Muscle: Cara Kleinhaut
At 52, experiential-marketing CEO Cara Kleinhaut dead-hangs surfboards, hikes Kilimanjaro for fun—and still cooks rainbow-bright farmer-market meals for her teenage girls. In this candid conversation with Stark CEO Todd Vande Hei, Cara unpacks ...
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Episode 66
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42:49
From Founder Burn-Out to Hunter-Gatherer Health: Chirag Sagar & Todd Vande Hei Re-Engineer the Executive Body
Mission Matters COO Chirag Sagar works 14-hour days, pops up at every L.A. networking event—and just popped a calf walking up the stairs. In this candid jam-session, Chirag asks Stark CEO Todd Vande Hei one simple question: “Where does a ti...
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54:39
From SnackWell to Regenerative Soil: Dr. Jeffrey Burke on AI‑Powered Medicine, Smart Supplements & the End of Comfort‑Zone Eating
Natural‑health broadcaster Dr. Jeffrey Burke has spent 45 years translating nutrition science for everyday people. In this lively conversation with Todd Vande Hei, he compares the 1980s “fat‑free” craze to today’s ultra‑processed foodscape, and...
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Episode 6
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42:44
Unlocking the Flow Code: David Nurse on Epigenetic Greatness, 10-Hertz Focus & Living Your Why
Former NBA shooting-coach-turned-mindset maestro David Nurse joins host Todd Vande Hei for a wide-ranging crash course on building greatness from the inside out. Drawing on epigenetics, Navy SEAL “attribute stacking,” and his brand-new Flow Cod...
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Episode 5
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1:00:59
Dominoes of Wellness: Dr. Michael Breus on Sleep, Hydration, Breathing & the Future of Sleep Tech
World‑renowned “Sleep Doctor” Dr. Michael Breus joins host Todd Vande Hei to strip wellness back to its three most powerful (and too often ignored) dominoes: sleep, hydration, and breathing. Drawing from his new book Sleep, Drink, Breathe
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Episode 4
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34:15
Stone‑Agers in the Space Age: Todd’s Blueprint for Closing the Health Mismatch
Why are chronic illness, fatigue, and plummeting testosterone rampant in the most “advanced” nations on Earth? Host Todd Vande Hei argues it’s simple: we’re ancient hardware running on futuristic software. Our hunter‑gatherer genes are drowning...
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Episode 3
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34:41
From Cancer to Vibrant Living: Elissa Goodman on Self‑Love, Soup Cleanses & Thriving in Your 60s
When holistic nutritionist Elissa Goodman was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 32, a forward‑thinking oncologist asked questions she’d never heard in a doctor’s office: Are you happy? Do you love yourself? That moment ignited a three‑decade...
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Episode 2
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48:40
Outside the Box: An Integrative Approach to Medicine with Dr. Paul Anderson
In this enlightening episode, host Todd Vande Hei sits down with Dr. Paul Anderson—co-author of Outside the Box—to explore how chronic and complex health issues often slip through the cracks of our traditional medical system. Dr. Ander...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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38:10
The Hidden Cost of Suppressing Emotions with Dr. Hillary Goldsher
Masculinity is evolving, but are men keeping up? In this compelling discussion, Dr. Hillary Goldsher joins Todd Vander Hei to unpack the societal pressures shaping modern masculinity and the consequences of emotional suppression.They explor...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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1:07:01
Optimizing Brain Health & Recovery with Kristen Willeumier, PhD and Alice Nguyen, NMD
How do concussions, repetitive head trauma, and strokes impact long-term brain health? Neuroscientist Dr. Kristen Willeumier and naturopathic physician Dr. Alice Nguyen join Todd Vande Hei for an eye-opening discussion on brain resilien...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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1:04:58
Strength as a Skill, with Brett Jones
Strength training isn’t just about lifting heavier—it’s about training smarter. Brett Jones, director of education at StrongFirst, rejoins Todd this week on the podcast, sharing his philosophy on strength training as a skill.Bret...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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55:54
Hydration, Joint Mobility, & Fascia Health, with Bryce Turner
Hydration is more than just drinking water—it’s about optimizing how your body absorbs, utilizes, and retains fluids to enhance mobility, reduce inflammation, and support long-term health. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Br...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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48:28
Unlocking Intimacy, Connection, & Sexual Well-Being, with Aaro Ardis
Intimacy is about so much more than physical connection—it's a pathway to deeper relationships, stronger communication, and improved mental well-being. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, relationship coach Aaro Ardis joins Tod...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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1:01:04
Rewriting the Brain for Freedom & Performance, with “The Mind Architect” Peter Crone
Most people don’t simply live their lives—they live out the stories going on in their minds. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Todd sits down with “The Mind Architect”, Peter Crone, to dive into how deeply ingrained subconsci...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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52:47
Functional Medicine, Gut Health, & Toxicity, with Dr. Bob Rakowski
The foundation of health starts in the gut—something ancient wisdom and modern science both can agree on. In this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Dr. Bob Rakowski unpacks the critical role gut health plays in overall wellness and w...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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43:44
Magnesium’s Critical Role in Health & Performance, with Dr. Robert Fredrickson
Magnesium is responsible for over a thousand biochemical reactions in the body, yet more than 75% of people are deficient in this critical mineral. Dr. Robert Fredrickson joins Todd on this week’s episode of Health is a Skill to break d...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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31:36
A Reality Check on the Facts Behind Menopause & Metabolic Health, with Dr. Alice Nguyen
Menopause is an inevitable transition, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. In this episode, Dr. Alice Nguyen brings her wealth of knowledge to a candid discussion on managing menopause and metabolic health. She and Todd dive into how h...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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51:57
Male Fertility & The Impact of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, with Michael Moeller, ND
On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd is diving into a topic that is becoming more and more prevalent for men: lower rates of male fertility. Dr. Michael Moeller is a naturopathic medical doctor who specializes in men’s health, ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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1:13:29
Fat Loss & Diet, with Geoff Samson
Being that it’s the beginning of a new year, we’re continuing our conversation on the best ways to lose fat as we start off 2025! Today Todd is joined by Stark’s registered dietician, Geoff Samson. Geoff is an expert in all things fat l...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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55:12
Effective Fat-Burning Strategies to Kick Off 2025, with Amir Mofidi
Welcome to Season 3 of Health is a Skill! We’re kicking off a brand new season—and a brand new year—talking about the most effective ways to burn fat and feel your best as we enter 2025. Stark’s head of training and health protocols, Am...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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51:04
Season 2 Recap: Your Health is in Your Hands
We’re wrapping up Season 2 of Health is a Skill with a recap of the last 11 episodes—what our guests taught us about achieving a state of peak health, Todd’s insights into his own health journey, and a look back on how you can be the he...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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20:51
The Intersection Between Strength Training & Eastern Medicine, with Dr. Chris Holder
Todd is back for this week’s episode of Health is a Skill with a special guest he’s been meaning to reconnect with for over a decade: Dr. Chris Holder. Chris is a strength coach turned doctor of eastern medicine practices like Qigong an...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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55:46
Mental Well-Being, Meditation, & Building Resilience, with Mark Vande Hei
For today’s episode of Health Is a Skill Todd is joined by a very special guest, his brother Mark Vande Hei! But this isn’t just some catch-up conversation between two brothers. Mark is a NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Army colonel who...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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59:04
A Realistic Look at the Birth Control Pill & Women’s Health, with Alice Nguyen
For decades women have been told that taking the birth control pill is the best approach to controlling their cycle and regulating hormones. But as more research has been done in recent years, it’s become apparent that maybe this isn’t ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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56:55