Ben Coomber Radio
616 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 78 ratingsWant to look awesome, feel awesome, be AWESOME? Tune into my show Ben Coomber Radio, a UK #1 rated podcast and top 10 in the world. A show centred around you being the best version of yourself, where I interview the worlds best guests in health, fitness, mindset, career success, business, and personal development, as well as Q&A shows with my co-host Tom, and solo shows with just me, and the mic!
A full fat, honest, direct, evidence based, practical, insightful, (and sometimes funny) show from a 7 year podcasting veteran.
Who am I? I'm a nutritionist, award winning coach, speaker, writer, award winning supplement creator, & former obese man sharing my journey, insights, and wisdom on life. I'm also a husband, dad, multiple business owner, and life long student of living an AWESOME life.
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Episodes
{SPECIAL} Why I wrote How to Live an Awesome Life - OUT NOW
January 05, 2023 09:50 - 21 minutes - 39.2 MBMany have asked "Ben, why did you write How to Live an Awesome Life", why haven't you written a nutrition and health book? Well my mission has always been much bigger than that, its what I have strived for personally, and have tried to foster and inspire in others. Also, nothing works in isolation, you can't optimise some areas of your life without others, it has to all work in tandem, thats why I've written my new 11 step formula to living your most awesome life, which is out today. In this...
#685 - Hardest 2 Years of my Life
October 20, 2022 05:27 - 1 hour - 123 MBThe last 2 years have been really challenging and have seen me change as a person more than at any time in my life, from battling long covid, to having kids, to losing myself, to getting a low testosterone diagnosis, and more. In this show I reflect on these last 2 years, why they have been hard, what I have learnt from the experience and why I am now a better human as a result of it. I hope you enjoy the reflections, this is my final podcast for now after 10 years doing it, follow the next...
#684 - Knowing when to quit
October 06, 2022 04:45 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBKnowing when to quit something in life is key, otherwise things sour, we get resentful, and we aren't doing things that keep us fulfilled and whole. It could be a job, a relationship, a commitment to someone else. We often use logic to decide whether to quit or not, but this is wrong, which I'll explain in this show. This is the penultimate podcast for Ben Coomber Radio, if you listen in, I'll explain why it's time to quit...
#683 - Metabolism, can we increase it?
September 29, 2022 04:45 - 34 minutes - 32 MBWe're often sold products to help us "increase our metabolism". Many believe they have "a slow metabolism". There are many metabolic myths, this podcast breaks them all down, defines both metabolism and metabolic rate, how we can increase it, whether products like 'Lumen' - a metabolism hacking device is worth it, and a few other musings, all aimed for us to improve health and body composition. Enjoy.
#682 - Diet Culture & Motivational Quotes
September 22, 2022 04:45 - 35 minutes - 32 MBDiet culture is a problem, but it's also misunderstood in many ways. We re-look at this important topic and evolve our thinking on it, looking at fitness culture, how information is communicated online, the definition of it, how it intersects with mental health, how we should conquer our goals, and finish with a look at our favourite quotes, whether they are motivational or not, and how motivational quotes actually work in the brain.
#681 - The Optimal Human Diet: A New Perspective
September 15, 2022 04:45 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBA cool new piece of research has come out looking at the gut microbiome, bacteria, what happens when people eat different diets, and what this means for that claims that are made around what is the optimal human diet, and how the gut feeds into that conversation. We ensure we make this show practical, but also get to the heart of what the science is trying to tell us. Enjoy. A link to the research paper: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00579-21
#680 - Sleep Supplements: What the Science Says
September 08, 2022 04:40 - 1 hour - 132 MBWhat sleep supplements are proven by science to be effective? CBD, Lavendar, 5HPT, Glycine? There is lots that is talked about online, but what's worth the money, and how effective are they? Find out in this sleep supplements talk, which also covers key lifestyle factors that play a role in sleep quality. Check out: www.sleepprocoach.com for more, this is who I did the talk for.
#679 - The 6 Life Experiences that made me an Entrepreneur
September 01, 2022 04:40 - 29 minutes - 54.9 MBI've been self-employed since I was 20. And up until now I've always told the story of why and how I think I ended up being an entrepreneur. But I now think this was wrong, or at least incomplete, I don't think I've been telling the full story. In this solo show I break down the 6 life experiences that I feel shaped my journey as an entrepreneur and how you might learn from this self inquest, and your future goals and desires.
#678 - Why aren't women exercising? with Jesse Lambert Harden
August 18, 2022 06:20 - 1 hour - 113 MBA recent poll indicates that 47% of women have done no vigorous activity in the last year. What's more, while 37% felt that their health has gotten worse over the same period, 67% reported a lack of motivation and 55% a lack of time...so what's going on? In this show, CoHost Tom and guest speaker Jesse Lambert Harden, a successful coach and BTN Academy Graduate, break down the research before talking about the barriers commonly faced by women and what we, as coaches and people involved in fit...
#677 - We argue about fitness marketing, Carnivore MD & whether we should delete social media
August 11, 2022 05:33 - 55 minutes - 103 MBThere is A LOT online we disagree with scientifically and ethically in the world of fitness, and you could argue marketing has ruined it all. Tom and I have an argument about how we see fitness marketing and the ethics behind it, how science should be referenced online, whether AI can save social media, whether we should delete social media, and whether certain 'personalities' online should be cancelled... Enjoy.
#676 - The Journey to Healing, Freedom & Belonging with Nicola Jane Hobbs
August 04, 2022 04:45 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBDo you feel a sense of freedom in your life, healed from past trauma you've experienced, and a sense of belonging in the world and in yourself? If not, todays podcast is for you. I talk to the amazing Nicola Jane Hobbs, a sports psychologist and integrative counsellor who has an amazing personal journey that is paired with her deep work helping others. Prepare to go deep, prepare for a shift in your energy, and prepare for a better tomorrow. Follow Nicola on social media @NicolaJaneHobbs ...
#675 - Are some PTs giving out illegal and dangerous advice?
July 28, 2022 04:50 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBSocial media gives free speech to all, and this is dangerous. But what is more dangerous is the standards PT training providers are equipping PTs with. Are PTs confident and credible to do their jobs after a L3 PT course? We explore the dangerous bits of advice we see online, and how PTs are stepping outside their remit of practice.
#674 - Athletic Nutrition with Dr Tom Little
July 21, 2022 04:45 - 36 minutes - 33 MBDo athletes eat differently to you and I? There is only one way to find out, bring an AWESOME expert onto the show to find out. Today I talk to Dr Tom Little, who has worked for many many pro football teams such as Manchester City, the FA, Saracens Rugby club, and many more. We discuss his Colour Fit Nutrition model, performance nutrition, how we can eat more intuitively but in a performance driven way, how his son inspired his app and book, and more. Check his book out here: https://amzn.e...
#673 - Small Changes, BIG Results with David Birtwistle
July 14, 2022 04:31 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBThe legend David Birtwistle is BACK on the show! He joins me to talk about the 'low hanging fruit' we have in our lives that can lead to BIG changes. In fitness, health and nutrition we can often focus on the micro, the detail, the things that don't matter until the foundations are in place. David has some interesting perspectives on the small stuff, from his years of coaching and personal exploration. Including movement, are we focusing our energy on the wrong things? Enjoy. Check out Davi...
#672 - Moaning about Personal Trainers & Fitness Industry Standards
July 07, 2022 04:45 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBThis is our part 2 pet peeves show after you answered our big social media post "what grinds your gears about the nutrition and fitness world". Today we focus the show on your comments regarding personal trainers, the standards that are present in the industry, who is to blame, what a personal trainer should do uphold as standards, and a few other - hopefully, insightful musings.
#671 - Would you want to be famous?
June 30, 2022 04:45 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBWould you want to be famous? Most we think would say yes, but I've said no, I wouldn't, not proper famous anyway. This started off as an intro topic but turned into a show as Tom and I explored the benefits of being famous, the drawbacks, reports from celebrities like Example the musician and what they've experienced, and its potential effect on your mental health. After you've had a listen, let me know your answer...
#670 - Gym Culture: Pet Peeves
June 23, 2022 04:45 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBWhat do you hate about gym culture, or things people do in the gym? This is part 1 of a mini series with myself and Tom as we explore the things that annoy you about the world of fitness and nutrition. Today, expect some F bombs, a few stories, and hopefully a few fitness lessons we can learn from!
#669 - Fruit & Fructose: Is it bad for us?
June 16, 2022 08:01 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBFruit, is it bad for us? Are smoothies a no no? How much sugar, and or fructose is too much? We cover fructose, fruit and sugar metabolism at length in this show so you can be informed, for you and your family's health.
#668 - Calories on Menus, will it change anything?
June 09, 2022 04:45 - 1 hour - 113 MBCalories on menus are now mandatory for companies with 250 staff or more, but nutritionally, and psychologically, what does this mean? Does existing research even support the initiative? The government have brought this in to try help tackle the obesity epidemic, but big Qs are being raised. We cover the research, eating disorders, the option of having the option, and the 'meta' conversation in all this - why not put restrictions on the companies making the money here?
#667 - Toxins, Fasting, and 'Nutritional Therapy'
June 06, 2022 08:42 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBIn the world of nutrition there are some WILD claims, they even go as far to claim they can cure cancer - dangerous ground. A recent ‘Which’ survey did secret testing on the claims of ‘nutritional therapists’, and the outcomes weren’t good - some even saying "don't do chemo for your cancer". In this show we look at nutritional therapy, claims that are made, how to spot false claims, trends we see in this arena, and more - all spurred from a listener email after they attended a female health c...
#666 - The Science of Carbs & Salt in Exercise
May 26, 2022 04:35 - 39 minutes - 36 MBLong ago carbs were bad in the world of nutrition, but many are still wary of them. Today we dive deep into carbs and salt and their use in fuelling exercise. We look at the recent sports nutrition data and how you can use this knowledge to enhance your training performance from your carb intake, and where your salt intake should be at.
#665 - Gym & Sports Supplements: Beta Alanine & Creatine
May 19, 2022 04:50 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBThis week we look specifically at beta alanine and creatine after its popularity and spotlight off the back of the Joe Rogan Matt Fraser interview. We delve into their science, application, and who should use them, and why. So if you hit the gym, or play sport, this show is for you to understand whether they are supplements you would take or not.
#664 - "Think About The Positives" is BS Advice
May 12, 2022 04:45 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBAnxiety is at an all time high, and advice you often hear when you are feeling anxious about the situation is "think about the positives", rather than the negatives. But we think this is bad advice. We also think anxiety is phase 1 of what we are experiencing, fear is phase 2 - its a specific version of what we are feeling about the future. This then feeds into how we deal with situations and ultimately move more positively forward. Tom and I riff on the mics and hope to give you clarity on h...
#663 - The 7 Types of Laziness with Brian Keane
May 03, 2022 04:55 - 44 minutes - 41 MBFriend of the show Brian Keane (online coach & best selling author) re-joins us on the podcast to open a discussion on the 7 types of laziness. This was a post of his that went viral and caught my attention, it was a great breakdown of how we position problems as something simple, but they are not and then limit our ability to get past the problem. We've all said to ourselves "I'm lazy" with something in our lives, but there is a reason, and in this show we break down the 7 types with Brians ...
#662 - You'll go Barefoot After this Podcast with Ben Le Vesconte
April 28, 2022 04:40 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBWe all wear shoes, a lot, but how well is this allowing our feet to move, and how does this affect our knees, hips and back? I've been a fan of barefoot shoes for 15 years, and this show is dedicated to my love of barefoot movement which I've not given enough attention over the years, and how the shoes we wear aren't conductive to a natural way of movement. I discuss this with Ben Le Vesconte from Vivobarefoot, a company I'm a big fan of. Might be time to ditch those Nikes...
#661 - Gut Health: The Latest Science with Alex Manos
April 21, 2022 04:40 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBGut health is a popular area of study, and research links it to nearly every area of health, but how has the research evolved from the 90s, into the turn of the century, to now? I get Alex Manos back onto the show to talk all things bacteria, probiotics, testing, supplements vs food, how stress affects our gut, and more. Warning, its a super geeky show. Check out Alex testing company www.healthpath.com which I HIGHLY recommend, it's what I have been using to successfully sort my gut out pos...
#660 - British Food, Farming Standards & Pesticides
April 14, 2022 04:40 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBHow good is the quality of British food? It often gets a bad rap in some circles, but I feel this is unfounded, as it seems we have very high quality welfare standards. To debate this I talk to an Agronomist, Conor Campbell, who works with farmers to advise on their land, yield, which pesticides and fertilisers to use, and has a unique insight into our food standards compared to other countries. Want more info on UK food and farming? Search for 'The NFU' who have many fact sheets on UK farm...
#659 - All or Nothing with Michelle Segar
April 07, 2022 05:19 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBWhy are so many of us all or nothing people, we either do something to the extreme, or not at all? Problem is, science doesn't support this approach, and employing flexible restraint is a key determinant of long term success, with anything. Issue is, this all comes down to 'executive function', but what's the answer, what mental shifts do we need to make? Learn the 4 disruptors with Michelle Segar, who I welcome back to the show to discuss this, and her new book The JOY Choice. Take her qui...
#658 - Exercise Isn't Therapy
March 28, 2022 04:40 - 13 minutes - 24.2 MBTo some the title of this podcast will feel like a controversial statement, after all exercise makes us feel good and is even prescribed now to people with depression. But have a listen.... there is important context around this statement. If you've had a listen, feel free to share your thoughts with me on social media. I'm always all ears....
#657 - Changing Our Auto-Pilot Response with Bob Doyle
March 24, 2022 05:55 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBThere is much we do on auto-pilot, and if we don't choose to become aware of these responses and change them, we'll continue to get the same outcomes. Bob Doyle joins me to discuss how the law of attraction started his journey into personal development (he was in 'The Secret' the film - but now feels its BS), how success hinges on our behaviours, how this ultimately comes down to the Q "Who do you want to be", as well as a few personal anecdotes to help give context to this important message....
#656 - My Experience With Long Covid
March 21, 2022 05:45 - 22 minutes - 40.6 MBI've talked about having Long Covid on and off in parts on our long shows with Tom, but never in a succinct way. I've just written a full length comprehensive blog on my website bencoomber.com about my Long Covid journey and recovery, but wanted to add context to my journey, and list the top 13 things that I feel helped my on my journey to recovery, things I would do straight away if I thought I had Long Covid. Please share this with anyone you know that has Long Covid.
#655 - Don't Overthink It
March 17, 2022 05:40 - 41 minutes - 75.9 MBWhen it comes to our mental health, how many of our problems can be caused by us overthinking something? It's easy to get stuck in our thoughts, the world of personal development teaches to learn, to reflect, to journal, to meditate etc etc, but when does that become of detriment? When is enough, enough? In this podcast I try to unpick how I've been feeling mentally recently, why I feel its happened, how I'm aiming to solve it, and how you can learn from my experience getting stuck mentally. ...
#654 - Is The Government EatWell Guide Correct?
March 10, 2022 05:45 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBThe UK Government and NHS have a guide for nutrition, its called the EatWell Guide. It often gets a lot of criticism in the world of health and fitness, but is this criticism well placed, surely its an evidence based approach to nutrition? We explore the guide, the protein recommendations, why there fat comments seem odd - but somehow relevant, where the guide lacks context around sugar, and where, if followed, it could actually solve a lot of health problems. If you're interested in nutrit...
#653 - Mental Wealth with Adnan Ebrahim
March 03, 2022 05:45 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBWhat does mental wealth mean? We hear mental health a lot, but it's a broad term. It's like money, we don't want to just earn it, we want to be wealthy over time. I chat to Adnan Ebrahim, a mental health advocate and owner of MindLabs, a new mental health app. We explore mental wealth, where neuroplasticity starts and stops, what non-invasive daily practices can look like, what a flexible approach to wellness looks like, his journey with his mental health, and more. Enjoy. Check out Mind La...
#652 - Calling Ourselves Out
February 24, 2022 05:40 - 53 minutes - 49 MBIs success as simple as personal choice? How powerful is environment? When is showing ourselves empathy appropriate, and when is it appropriate to call ourselves out on our own BS? This show is full of big questions. But we're hoping it could help you, the listener, shift your perspective and break through...
#651 - Le Mans 24 Diet & Training with Phil Hanson
February 17, 2022 05:45 - 43 minutes - 40 MBWant an insight into the diet and training of a Le Mans 24 race car winner? Well you're in for a treat as Phil Hanson from United Autosports who is the youngest driver to win the World Championship and to win the European Le Mans Series & 24 Hours of Le Mans race joins me to talk shop. We discuss his journey into the sport, his approach and mindset, his simple approach to nutrition, what data he values to fine tune his body, and how and when he trains. A fascinating conversation with an eli...
#650 - Rewriting Your Story with David McIntosh
February 10, 2022 05:45 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBIf David can do it, surely we can all rewrite our story, however pre-determined it feels? Coming from a family of poverty, with a PTSD suffering father, to a parent dying young, to growing up in an environment where staying in poverty and never breaking out feels inevitable, to becoming Scotland’s 1st apprentice management consultant, best young consultant in the country to apprentice of the year 2020, to founding chairing 2 social networks for Social Mobility, to meeting the queen, and to pa...
#649 - Organic Food, Pesticides & Critical Thinking
February 03, 2022 05:45 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBOrganic food is assumed to be better, but is it? What if we eat organic food and make it part of a Mediterranean approach to nutrition, is that better again? This is what recent research looked to uncover and the role of pesticides on our food. Thing is, to really get under the skin of any research we need to look at study design, bias, how that fits into the broader research, and the context we are reading it in. So we take a deep dive into the study, how to contextualise research for person...
649 - Organic Food, Pesticides & Critical Thinking
February 03, 2022 05:45 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBOrganic food is assumed to be better, but is it? What if we eat organic food and make it part of a Mediterranean approach to nutrition, is that better again? This is what recent research looked to uncover and the role of pesticides on our food. Thing is, to really get under the skin of any research we need to look at study design, bias, how that fits into the broader research, and the context we are reading it in. So we take a deep dive into the study, how to contextualise research for person...
#648 - Understanding Fatigue with Alex Howard
January 27, 2022 05:45 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBFatigue is complex, and there is many levels to it. You've got the initial state of being tired and worn out, then you have overwhelm and burnout, and then you have an illness state of fatigue like CFS/ME, and what many people are now seeing with Long Covid. Alex Howard suffered with CFS for many years and has now made it his life long mission to help others with fatigue, largely in a clinical setting. In this show we explore the intersection of body : mind : spirit and how it all plays a rol...
#647 - Make this Year YOUR Best Ever (Pt 2)
January 20, 2022 05:45 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBPart 1 went deep, let's recap on some key things and then get practical. In part 2 we discuss where to start when you don't know where to start, the importance of environmental and personal boundaries, the crux we all have with time allocation, habits that do and don't work and why, how we chalk up our behaviour and simply optimise it - never fight it, and you creating a plan of action for YOUR best year ever. If you enjoy the show, please share :)
#646 - Make this Year YOUR Best Ever (Pt 1)
January 13, 2022 05:45 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBWant this to be your best year ever? It often feels easier said than done, so let's get under the hood and make it happen. In this 2 part show Tom and I discuss the journey to executing on a year you'll be proud to look back on. In part 1 we look at the habits and routines of great people, where success leaves clues, why its important to not essentialise your problems, why much self-help advice you see is hidden behind a deeper, truer reason for doing it (Ice Baths and Meditation being our ch...
#645 - It’s 2022… Scared or Excited?
January 06, 2022 05:22 - 16 minutes - 15 MBIt's 2022, are you scared, or excited? The world in many ways is still a mess, but the one thing we can control is ourselves, our state, and our future happiness. I firstly apologise for last week, the first time no show has been aired for 8 years, and then end up on a ramble outlining what you or I might need this 2022. What do you want to achieve this 2022? Are you willing to set yourself up for success? I am. Its time for you to be...
It’s 2022… Scared or Excited?
January 06, 2022 05:22 - 16 minutes - 15 MBIt's 2022, are you scared, or excited? The world in many ways is still a mess, but the one thing we can control is ourselves, our state, and our future happiness. I firstly apologise for last week, the first time no show has been aired for 8 years, and then end up on a ramble outlining what you or I might need this 2022. What do you want to achieve this 2022? Are you willing to set yourself up for success? I am. Its time for you to be...
#644 - Three Lessons from 2021: Tom's Yearly Roundup
December 23, 2021 06:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MB2021 - What a year! ....but hat has it taught us? It's been an interesting year to say the least, but in this annual roundup, co-host Tom looks away from the main headlines, the news, and the politics that have taken up so much of the world's attention, and instead looks to the three things he's going to be taking away from 2021 and applying to the future. He covers: 1. The most important finding from scientific research this year 2. How Tom has had an Ah-HA moment that he will take int...
#643 - Back Pain with Troy Martin
December 16, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBBack pain affects up to 80% of adults in the UK, and is experienced by an estimated 2.5million people every day - but what is it? This almost seems like an odd question - pain is pain, right? Well, maybe not.... In this show Tom interviews Troy Martin: a back pain and injury rehab specialist. They talk about what pain is, how and why it occurs in the body, the mistakes we make in thinking and dealing with pain, whether or not certain exercises can cause pain, whether poor technique causes ...
#642 - Getting the most from your training with Jenny Todd
December 09, 2021 06:05 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBIn this week's show, Tom brings back his coach - multiple-time champion strongwoman Jenny Todd - to talk through methods that you can use to get the most progress from your time in the gym. Often the soundbite advice that is given to those who aren't making as much progress in the gym as they'd like is to simply train harder (or at least that's what we expect it to be) but as you'll see throughout this deep-dive, often the real solution is a little more broad than that. Jenny has coaches ...
#641 - Keep Moving Forward with John Clark
December 02, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBThis week Tom interviews John Clark, a man who has been at the top in strongman, who has played high level rugby, who runs successful businesses, and who has raised over £100,000 for charity doing events ranging from a 24 hour Ski Erg to running 48 marathons in 48 days - one in each English county! This inspirational conversation covers John's impressive athletic career - the successes and the injuries - and all of the lessons learned along the way about resilience, backing yourself, finding...
#640 - Xmas weight gain anxiety
November 25, 2021 05:45 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBThe Xmas period is one filled with great food and time spent together, but while this is supposed to be a time of year for celebration this prospect can fill many with anxiety. What if I gain weight? What if this sets me back? How can I avoid fat gain? In this show, Co-Host Tom takes us through a conversation he's having with his clients at the moment, detailing the mindset and approach you can adopt over the Xmas period to ensure that come January you have no regrets. He discusses: - Wha...
#639 - Egoism vs Altruism - Are Humans Inherently Selfish?
November 18, 2021 05:45 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBWe know people that appear selfish, they do everything for themselves, and we know people that do everything for everyone else, and get to the end of the week feeling they've done nothing for themselves. One is selfish, one is selfless, right? We disagree. Tom opens this argument talking about self-serving actions and how all our actions are actually self-serving, we just value different things and put importance on short term behaviours over long term behaviours. I then expand into how we se...