I recently joined the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast for a deep dive into how lifters can use cardio intelligently—without sabotaging strength or size gains. We also got into the weeds (in the best way) on stress physiology, D9 caffeine, and my favorite topic: Physiologic Flexibility.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How much cardio you actually need if your goal is muscle
- How to boost VO₂ max without burning out or interfering with hypertrophy
- How to train around major life stressors—because let’s face it, stress isn’t going anywhere
- The role of cold and heat exposure in building real resilience
- Why I believe the future of long-term health and performance is flexibility—not just in movement, but in your ability to shift between states
We also touch on D9 caffeine, adaptation stacking, and why aerobic training doesn’t deserve its bad rap in the lifting world.
If you’re a coach, athlete, or science-minded human who wants to perform better and feel better, this one’s worth your time.
Episode Timestamps:
- 00:05 – Intro with Dr. Mike T. Nelson
- 00:44 – The value of aerobic training for lifters
- 16:03 – How much cardio do you really need to build muscle?
- 51:27 – The science behind D9 caffeine and performance
- 01:00:03 – What is Physiologic Flexibility and why it matters
- 01:05:15 – Strategies for building stress resilience
- 01:14:31 – Using heat exposure for adaptation and recovery
- 01:18:50 – Benefits and protocols for cold exposure
Watch Here
Rock on!
