From Burned Out to Built Different — Matt Cook’s Stark Transformation Artwork

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.

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Health Is A Skill with Todd Vande Hei

From Burned Out to Built Different — Matt Cook’s Stark Transformation

January 29, 2026 • Todd Vande Hei • Season 4 • Episode 40

What happens when someone stops guessing about their health and fully commits to a system?
In this episode, Todd Vande Hei sits down with Stark student Matt Cook, host of The Pull Hook podcast, to unpack a seven-month transformation that reshaped Matt’s body, energy, sleep, digestion, athletic performance, and even fertility. What started as fatigue, weight gain, gut issues, and poor sleep turned into strength, clarity, resilience, and a completely different relationship with food and health.
This is a real-world case study in what happens when coachability meets data-driven health optimization — and why most people don’t realize how unhealthy they are until they feel truly well.

In This Episode
• How Matt lost 30+ pounds and reversed years of fatigue in months
• Why “eating healthy” isn’t the same as being healthy
• The role of gut health in energy, immunity, and hormone balance
• How sleep apnea resolved without a CPAP
• Why strength, mobility, and cardiovascular health unlocked athletic performance
• The connection between optimal health and fertility
• What “coachability” really means in a health journey
• Why health optimization becomes easier — not harder — over time

Key Takeaway
You don’t realize how much you’ve been surviving until your body finally starts working the way it was designed to.
To learn more about Stark and health optimization, visit stark.health.

Connect with Stark
Personalized inside‑out health programs at stark.health

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🤔 ABOUT Todd Vande Hei 🤔

Welcome to Todd Vande Hei's channel, where health mastery meets real-life transformation. Join Todd as he shares invaluable insights and practical tips to help you unlock your full health potential.

Whether you're struggling with chronic pain, seeking sustainable weight loss, or simply striving to live your best life, Todd's journey and expertise will inspire and empower you to take control of your health and well-being.

Join our community of health enthusiasts committed to making positive changes and thriving at every stage of life. Let's embark on this journey to vibrant health together!

DISCLOSURE

We focus on optimizing every aspect of your well-being. At Stark, our team of expert trainers, doctors, nutritionists and a complete medical support team, led by CEO Todd Vande Hei, is dedicated to helping you become the BEST version of yourself. We specialize in coaching executives, athletes, pop stars, astronauts and other noteworthy individuals in all forms of exercise, diet, lifestyle, stress management and personalized supplement protocols.

Our methodology is designed to tackle each facet of well-being comprehensively. We believe that optimal h...