Always Adaptive

In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I sit down with Dan Pope, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Strength Coach, and host of Fitness Pain Free to dive into his journey in fitness, the importance of evidence-based training, and the complexities of pain management. We get into his transition from personal trainer to physical therapist, how that shift shaped his coaching philosophy, and the practical takeaways from his new book.
We also tackle some of the most debated topics in strength training—including spinal flexion, valgus collapse, and the fine line between injury risk and building resilience. Dan shares his approach to assessments, movement quality, and injury prevention, breaking down what really matters when coaching athletes and general population clients alike.
This conversation is packed with real-world insights for coaches, therapists, and anyone interested in optimizing performance while keeping longevity in mind.
Buy Dans Book: Rock Solid Resilience - https://a.co/d/ix35HbB
Follow Dan:
YouTube - https://a.co/d/ix35HbB
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fitnesspainfree/
00:00 Introduction to Dan Pope and His Journey
03:10 The Motivation Behind Writing a Book
06:06 Transitioning from Personal Trainer to Physical Therapist
09:00 Understanding Pain and Movement in Fitness
11:46 The Complexity of Pain: Bio-Psycho-Social Model
15:08 Back Pain: Commonality and Treatment Approaches
18:14 Assessing Back Pain: The Role of Physical Therapy
20:53 Fitness Assessments: FMS vs. SFMA
23:49 Common Injuries in Strength Athletes
27:03 The Debate on Squatting Depth
30:03 Training Modalities: Flexion vs. Neutral Spine
35:05 Understanding Motion and Load Management
38:21 The Nuances of Spinal Flexion and Injury Risk
41:56 Pain Perception and Movement Patterns
45:51 Symmetry vs. Asymmetry in Movement
48:36 Research Challenges in Strength Training
55:20 Valgus Collapse and Knee Health
01:02:13 Promoting Safe Strength Training Practices

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com

00:00 Introduction to Seed Oils Debate
03:33 Arguments Against Seed Oils
06:13 Arguments for Seed Oils
11:30 Deep Dive into Mechanisms
17:07 Hexane and Its Implications
21:53 Essential Fatty Acids and Dietary Needs
23:40 Understanding Linoleic Acid and Cardiovascular Health
26:17 Arachidonic Acid: Implications for Heart Disease
28:29 Omega-3 and Omega-6: Impacts on Diabetes
30:00 Seed Oils: Oxidation and Cooking Considerations
36:50 Hexane Extraction: Benefits and Concerns
38:20 My Final Stance Based on Everything

In a new ever evolving world where information flies at us 1000mph, so many people are quick to throw their opinion out there about the latest trending topic without doing their due diligence and getting all of their ducks and facts in a row.
I've been hesitant to form an opinion because I just did not have that much information, however as time has gone on I could feel the pull of the topic. I could no longer avoid it any longer.
I've seen too many people regurgitating things that they had heard elsewhere on podcasts in front of millions of people. Things that they had not looked up even in the slightest.
In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I’m diving headfirst into the heated debate over seed oils. Are they the silent killer lurking in your kitchen, or has the internet blown this way out of proportion? Instead of picking a side, I’m steel-manning both—breaking down the strongest arguments for and against seed oils to separate fact from fearmongering.
I’ll tackle the real science behind how seed oils impact health, dig into the role of essential fatty acids, and expose what food processing methods might not be telling you. There’s a lot of noise out there, but I’m here to cut through it with logic, research, and a no-BS approach. By the end of this episode, you’ll have everything you need to make an informed decision—and yeah, I’ll share where I personally stand on the issue, but not before giving both sides their fair shot.
Ready to challenge what you think you know about seed oils? Let’s go.

References:
Technical Report on Hexane: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/en-9001?
Iran Study on Hexane Quantities: https://openaccesspub.org/ject/article/622
Omega 6 and CVD: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038908
Replacing Saturated Fat with PUFA: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-017-0254-5
Pufas and Diabetes: https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4697?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Omega 6 and Inflammation Markers: https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(12)00464-9/abstract
Oils and Bodyweight: https://bmcnutr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40795-024-00907-0#Tab1

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com

For far too long has the body building community been debating whether or not cardio is a good or bad thing. It's an unfortunate reality when you ponder just how many people have lost their lives due to cardiovascular complications in this community. You could chalk most of that up to performance enhancing drugs and poor diet, but I cannot help but wonder what would happen if these people had stellar cardiovascular health.
This week I'm making a strong case for why YOU and everyone else should be taking their cardio more seriously. I make the case against cardio and then I make the case to defend cardio. I'm also offering another program to you all if you're interested in adding cardio to your life but aren't sure where to start.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:50 Nuanced Opinions
05:00 Polarity in Health and Fitness
11:45 Argument Against Cardio
16:35 Study #1 in Support of Cardio
21:13 Study #2 in Support of Cardio
24:00 How to Improve VO2 Max

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com

Want a FREE hybrid strength/endurance training program?
I just need your email. Click here: http://eepurl.com/h1vzjr
In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I dive into why strength training is essential for anyone over 40. I break down what the studies say about progress for older people vs younger people and the myth that it’s too late to start building muscle and getting stronger—because the truth is, gains are possible at any age. I also talk about why power development matters, how aging affects strength, and share research that proves resistance training works across all age groups. Plus, I lay out a free practical training program focused on boosting strength and power. My goal is to help you embrace lifelong fitness and improve your health, performance, and overall quality of life.
00:00 Introduction to Strength Training Over 40
03:44 Understanding Power and Strength Training
06:25 What do the Studies Say?
16:16 Practical Program for Strength Training
26:11 Conclusion and Encouragement

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com

In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I break down Jordan Peterson’s interview with Dr. Ben Bikman, a well-known ketogenic diet advocate. Their conversation pushes the usual narrative—carbohydrates are bad, fats are good, and insulin is the enemy. But as always, the truth is more complicated than that.
I take a critical look at their claims, explaining why nutrition isn’t a black-and-white debate. The way we process carbohydrates and fats depends on context, activity level, and overall caloric intake, especially when it comes to strength training, athletic performance, and managing chronic conditions. The obsession with demonizing insulin often ignores the actual science behind metabolism and energy balance.
In this episode, I dive into the misconceptions, oversimplifications, and cherry-picked data that dominate low-carb discussions. Whether you’re focused on health, performance, or just making sense of nutrition, I break down what really matters so you can make informed decisions without falling for extreme dietary dogma.
Join me as I cut through the noise and bring a more balanced, evidence-based perspective to the ketogenic diet, nutrition, and performance.

00:00 Introduction
05:15 Examining Carbohydrate Intake and Health
08:37 Blood Glucose and Fat at the Same Time
15:31 Cultural Perspectives on Diet and Health
17:53 Understanding Insulin and Its Functions
20:11 The Addiction Debate: Carbs vs. Fats
26:03 Fuel Sources: Ketones vs. Glucose
30:05 The Role of Medications in Managing Chronic Conditions
32:11 Carbohydrates: Essential or Not?

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com