Host Chris Duffy talks with journalist and author Bonnie Tsui about what muscles really are, why they matter, and how strength training can transform health and identity across a lifetime. They discuss age-related muscle loss, the importance of lifting "heavy" for everyone, and how muscle functions as both mechanical mover and endocrine tissue that communicates with the brain. The conversation also explores gendered body norms, strong women in sport, Bonnie's upbringing with a martial-artist father, surfing as a metaphor for presence, and how interoception and muscle memory help us navigate injury, aging, and joy in movement.
Peter Attia explains how he structures his weekly training to prioritize longevity, balancing resistance work, zone 2 cardio, and VO2 max training while minimizing injury risk. He details rep ranges for strength, hypertrophy, and endurance, his specific warm-up approach using dynamic neuromuscular stabilization and jumping, and why muscle mass, grip strength, and power are crucial for healthy aging. The conversation also covers glucose metabolism, the dangers of falls in older age, the role of the nervous system in flexibility, and a simple three-day resistance training split.
Andrew Huberman interviews strength scientist and coach Brett Contreras about how to build an ideal physique through evidence-based resistance training. They cover training frequency, volume, and progressive overload, how to structure full-body and split routines, and how to specialize to bring up lagging muscle groups, with a major focus on glute development. They also discuss recovery genetics, long-term sustainability, injury prevention, glute and calf techniques, training across the lifespan including perimenopause, menopause, and pregnancy, and how to use body recomposition instead of extreme bulking and cutting.