In this episode of The Judd Lienhard Podcast, I sit down with Paul de Gelder—shark attack survivor, former Australian Navy clearance diver, and one of the toughest men you’ll ever meet.

Paul lost his hand and leg during a bull shark attack in Sydney Harbour. Most people would’ve quit. Paul didn’t. He rebuilt his body, rewired his mindset, and now lives a life of purpose—co-hosting Shark Week, speaking around the world, and training like a savage.

We talk about trauma, recovery, and what it actually takes to build resilience and mental strength. Whether you're a dad, athlete, coach, or someone trying to push through hard times—you'll be glad you listened.

🎯 You’ll learn:

• How to rebuild after life breaks you
• Mental tools to train your mindset like a muscle
• Paul’s approach to pain, rehab, and purpose
• Why excuses don’t serve you—and what to do instead

👊 Real adversity. Real lessons. Real strength.

🔗 Connect with Paul de Gelder
Instagram: @pauldegelder
YouTube: @pauldegelder1
Watch him on Shark Week (Discovery / Max)

🔗 Connect with Judd Lienhard
Instagram: @juddlienhard
YouTube: @juddlienhard
Training & Programs: juddlienhard.com

🎧 Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday at 5a CST.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Shark attack, trauma, and mindset
06:30 – Paul's early life, bullying, and direction
13:00 – Military transformation: from lost teen to elite diver
19:40 – The moment that changed everything
27:30 – Surviving a bull shark attack
36:15 – The recovery and decision to amputate
43:00 – Rebuilding his body and his purpose
50:00 – Training again: walking, lifting, moving
56:45 – How Paul avoids depression and victimhood
1:05:00 – Hosting Shark Week & working with Will Smith
1:13:00 – Grit, purpose, and staying on the edge

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Most guys don’t need a new program, a better supplement stack, or the “perfect” exercise they saw on Instagram. They need a reality check on their priorities.

In this solo episode, I break down the Priorities Pyramid—a six-layer system I’ve used for 20+ years as a strength coach, Army Ranger, and athlete. This is the blueprint for getting strong, moving well, and staying in shape for life.

If you’re the type of man who’s built a career, supports your family, and still holds yourself to a higher standard physically—this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn:

1. Safety – Why you're getting hurt and how to stop being dumb about it
2. Consistency – The only “secret” worth talking about
3. Comprehensive Approach – Strength, cardio, mobility… quit skipping what matters
4. Intensity – How to push yourself without breaking down
5. Specialized Techniques – What to use after you’ve earned it
6. Supplements & Hormones – The least important part (but most abused)

Who This Is For:

• Former athletes who still expect more from themselves
• Military & first responders
• Fathers, leaders, and hard workers who train like it matters
• Men who value strength, discipline, and real results

What This Isn’t:

This isn’t a hype-up. It’s not a shortcut. It’s not about aesthetics.
It’s about building a system that keeps you strong and capable—for decades.

Hard Truths I Get Into:

• If fitness isn’t one of your top 3 priorities, don’t expect results
• If you can spend $250 a month on booze but not a gym membership, your priorities are off
• If you're still blaming genetics or age—look in the mirror

Stop looking for hacks. Most people are spending 90% of their effort chasing 10% of the outcome. The work that matters is simple, boring, and hard.

Do it anyway.

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

In this wide-ranging episode, former NFL offensive lineman and Power Athlete founder John Welbourn returns to The Judd Lienhard Podcast for Part 2. John and Judd dive deep into what truly drives performance, recovery, and long-term health—challenging common fitness myths and exploring the science behind elite results.

Topics covered include:

• Relative intensity vs. training volume
• Saunas, cold plunges, and recovery physiology
• The sugar diet experiment and metabolic flexibility
• Gut health, microbiome science, and fecal transplants
• Muscle as medicine: why strength matters for aging
• Hormones, PEDs, and misunderstood performance tools
• What ancient resilience teaches us about modern softness

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or lifelong learner, this conversation will reframe how you think about strength, recovery, and longevity.

Connect with John Welbourn
Instagram: @johnwelbourn | @powerathleteinc
Website: powerathletehq.com

Connect with Judd Lienhard
Instagram: @juddlienhard
YouTube: Judd Lienhard on YouTube
Website & Coaching: juddlienhard.com

Listen and follow for new episodes every Tuesday.

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Most people don’t fail in the gym because they’re lazy—they fail because they don’t have a real plan. In this episode, I break down 5 military tactics I learned as an Army Ranger and have used as a performance coach for 15+ years to help people train with purpose.

Too many training programs fall apart because they lack strategy. In this episode, I’ll show you how to build a plan that fits your goals, supports your lifestyle, and holds up under pressure.

What you’ll learn:

• How to set a clear mission for your training
• The difference between your main effort and supporting efforts
• Why shaping and sustaining operations matter in fitness
• How to run daily after-action reviews (AARs) to stay consistent
• Why crossloading and redundancy help busy people train without missing workouts

This isn’t about motivation. It’s about planning. If you’re serious about staying strong, fit, and adaptable—especially with a full plate—this is how you build a system that actually works.

Follow for more episodes with athletes, veterans, and coaches who live it.

📱 IG: @juddlienhard
💻 Fitness App, Resistance Band & more: juddlienhard.com

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

What’s the difference between training and just working out? In this episode of The Judd Lienhard Podcast, elite performance coach Tim Riley (@timrileytraining) breaks down the mechanics of longevity-focused athletic training, calling out fitness dogma, movement cults, and what really matters if you want to stay powerful, functional, and pain-free over the long haul.

Whether you're a pro athlete or recreational lifter, Tim delivers a masterclass in how to train for speed, power, and durability — not just aesthetics.

👉 Learn how to train smart, recover harder, and stop chasing “optimal” in favor of what actually works.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Everyone can train like an athlete
00:00:20 - The difference between training vs. working out
00:03:34 - Tim’s #1 training tenet: "I don’t want to be right, I want to get it right"
00:06:00 - Mustache talk, social media presence, and staying authentic
00:08:16 - GOTA, functional patterns & movement cults
00:09:33 - Training disagreements with partners and dealing with creepy DMs
00:12:31 - Judging by appearance vs. training credibility
00:13:16 - State troopers and programming dogma
00:16:05 - Certainty in training and the limits of “science-based”
00:17:22 - Suboptimal programs that still deliver results
00:18:05 - Why intensity and consistency is more important than programming
00:20:45 - Bridging the gap between gen pop and elite athletes
00:23:33 - Gamifying performance and training as the sport
00:24:16 - Risk of acute injuries vs. chronic disease from inactivity
00:26:25 - Movement quality over muscle size
00:27:36 - 22mph sprint at age 35 & variability in human performance
00:30:11 - Getting hurt from training too hard vs. not training at all
00:33:25 - Sprinting safety & building up capacity
00:38:39 - Training chaos & the myth of “optimal” movement
00:41:08 - Sherpa coaching model and athlete collaboration
00:42:32 - Getting athlete buy-in for movement change
00:44:26 - Letting athletes choose exercises
00:45:04 - Exercise dogma: “Everyone must clean” vs. reality
00:47:46 - Jamar Chase power cleans 315 after 6 weeks off
00:50:00 - What defines true athleticism
00:51:13 - NFL physiques vs. performance efficiency
00:52:12 - Herschel Walker and the myth of minimalist training
00:52:59 - Tim’s basic training split: 2 lower, 2 upper
00:54:13 - Why speed comes first, and contrast pairing tips
00:55:09 - Importance of rest in power and sprint sessions
00:57:51 - 20x40s ≠ speed work: the biggest youth coaching mistake
00:59:18 - Football + distraction tricks to preserve rest quality
01:00:28 - Squat variations and trap bar replacements
01:01:43 - Why you need to train biarticulate muscles directly
01:02:37 - Upper body: heavy bench, athlete-guided pressing
01:03:51 - Why ballistic training is underrated
01:04:56 - The resurgence of machines and hypertrophy for athletes
01:07:34 - Why hypertrophy = health, metabolism, and training leverage
01:08:20 - Tim’s podcast & how to connect

📢 Follow Tim Riley:
Instagram: @timrileytraining
Podcast: Coach Em Up

🎧 More from Judd Lienhard:
Instagram: @juddlienhard
Training App, Coaching & More: https://www.juddlienhard.com/

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

I’ve spent over 15 years coaching young athletes—and I’ve seen one pattern over and over again: it’s not the kids who ruin their athletic experience... it’s the parents.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the 7 biggest mistakes I see sports parents make all the time. From making excuses and criticizing constantly, to living through your kid or thinking you know more than the coaches—these habits are killing your kid’s love for the game.

We all want what’s best for our kids, but sometimes we’re the ones standing in the way.

🎯 Here’s what I cover:

• Why letting your kid fail is a gift
• How excuses destroy accountability
• The damage caused by constant criticism
• Why comparing your kid to others (or yourself) backfires
• What sports are really supposed to teach
• How to tell if your kid actually loves the sport—or just wants to please you
• The truth about coaching
• When support turns into sabotage
• What it really means to raise an athlete who thrives

If you’re a sports parent, this episode is for you.

TRAIN WITH ME - IMPROVE YOUR: MOVEMENT, ATHLETICISM, STRENGTH, & SPEED ACCESS ALL MY FITNESS PROGRAMS FREE FOR 7-DAYS: https://www.juddlienhard.com/

IG: https://instagram.com/juddlienhard
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JuddLienhard

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Elena Brandner was told she would never walk again.

In 2022, a catastrophic car crash left her with a shattered spine, 18 broken bones, and a long list of physical and emotional trauma. Doctors gave her a bleak prognosis. But Elena refused to accept the narrative.

In this raw, emotional, and deeply motivating episode, Elena joins Judd to share her unfiltered journey—from athlete to trauma survivor to rebuilding her life through grit, grace, and relentless rehab.

You’ll hear how her training background helped save her life, how she overcame depression and loss of identity, and why choosing discomfort is the key to fulfillment. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to come back from adversity, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to keep going anyway.

👉 Whether you're an athlete, recovering from injury, or just stuck in life, this episode will change your perspective.

📍 Timestamps
00:00:00 – Intro: Elena’s story and resilience
00:03:00 – Life before the accident
00:06:00 – Details of the crash and injuries
00:09:00 – Waking up and early recovery
00:12:00 – Mental battles and rebuilding faith
00:15:00 – Rehab, setbacks, and breakthroughs
00:18:00 – Training innovations post-injury
00:21:00 – What people take for granted
00:24:00 – Perspective, mindset, and consistency
00:27:00 – Purpose, God, and future vision

💬 Key Themes:
- Spinal cord injury recovery
- Why fitness saved her life
- Training after trauma
- Mental toughness under pressure
- Purpose after pain
- How to build resilience when everything falls apart
- Daily habits, identity, and real self-discipline
- Turning tragedy into mission

🔗 Connect with Elena Brandner:
Instagram: @flostate_recovery
Website: https://linktr.ee/flostate_recovery

🔗 Train with Judd:
Instagram: @juddlienhard
MASS Method: https://www.juddlienhard.com/

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

What if the reason you feel off isn’t a lack of discipline or motivation—but too much comfort?

In this episode, Judd sits down with Dr. Alexei Vranich—archaeologist, Jiu Jitsu practitioner, and expert on human history and health—to explore why modern men are starved for struggle, community, and awe.

They dive into how ancient cultures found purpose in discomfort, how food and alcohol served as tools for connection (not escape), and why slowing down may be the most high-performance decision you can make.

From potato-based diets in the Andes to the neuroscience of awe, this conversation cuts through surface-level biohacking advice and gets to the real foundations of health, discipline, and fulfillment.

Whether you’re a veteran, an athlete, or just someone chasing clarity in an overstimulated world—this episode delivers the mindset shift you didn’t know you needed.

🔑 Topics Covered:

• Why struggle is essential to performance and happiness
• The dark side of modern comfort and convenience
• Ancient lessons on food, rituals, and physical effort
• How loneliness became a modern health crisis
• Jiu Jitsu, martial arts, and building real brotherhood
• Awe as a tool for rewiring your brain
• Breathing, presence, and the art of slowing down
• What history teaches us about purpose, suffering, and resilience

📌 If this episode hits home, leave a rating and review—it helps more people rediscover strength, clarity, and purpose.

👤 Guest: Dr. Alexei Vranich
Learn more: https://www.dralexei.com
Instagram: @alexeivranich

Follow Judd on Instagram @juddlienhard
Explore Judd’s training method: https://www.juddlienhard.com/

📚 Mentioned Books:
How to Change Your Mind – Michael Pollan - https://amzn.to/3YRjzPm
Botany of Desire – Michael Pollan - https://amzn.to/4klZk5f
Why We Eat What We Eat – Raymond Sokolov - https://amzn.to/3ZliFuv
Fish on Friday – Brian Fagan - https://amzn.to/3ZtmM7V
Sapiens – Yuval Noah Harari - https://amzn.to/3Sa3EYP
Meditations – Marcus Aurelius - https://amzn.to/44NrCAE

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers raw, unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥