531 – Kenny Santucci 🎙️ Gym Business, Inspiration from 80s & Staying TRUE to YOU & STRENGTH 22 Oct 6:35 PM (yesterday, 6:35 pm)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 531 - Kenny Santucci 
Gym Business, Inspiration from the 80s & Staying TRUE to YOU & STRENGTH
Connect with Kenny here:
https://www.instagram.com/kennysantucci/
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See us at https://UndergroundStrengthCon.com - Underground Strength Con is brought to you by https://TurnKey.Coach
See our great sponsors, partners, speakers and experience the anti influencer event of the decade!
Underground100 saves you $100 at https://UndergroundStrengthCon.com
This was a powerful and inspiring conversation with Kenny Santucci!
Of course, we discuss the gym business, but we also discuss topics like risk taking, creativity, overcoming business obstacles, the inspiration behind his gyms / clubs, The STRENGTH Club (NYC and NJ).
Dig in and get your learn on!
Also, see some behind the scenes videos from my office where I discuss mindset and business as I prep and we get closer to The Underground Strength Con.
Listen Below:
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Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE
Listen on Spotify Podcasts HERE
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Renegade Millionaire 
Underground Strength Con [Preparation, Mindset, Business Strategies]
Renegade Millionaire Mindset • Underground Strength Con 
These videos give you a little insight into my office, my library and my mindset.
Preparing for Underground Strength Con makes me BETTER. I begin researching older materials that have stood the test of time and help me grow my business and impacting more people.
That's all for now.
Take action and get out of your normal, every day environment.
You'll regret it if you wait for "next time"......
Live the Code 365,
Zach Even - Esh
Underground Strength Con - Register HERE
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MaceFit & Frank Dimeo 🎙️ Physical Culture, Training with Indian Clubs & Maces | Wrestling Strength w/ Bob Backlund, Karl Gotch & The Great Gama 19 Oct 5:36 AM (4 days ago)
I had a great time chatting about training with clubs and maces with Frank Dimeo, creator of MaceFit.
This is a BONUS episode of The STRONG Life Podcast
MaceFit & Frank Dimeo Physical Culture, Training with Indian Clubs & Maces | Wrestling Strength w/ Bob Backlund, Karl Gotch & The Great Gama.
You can see the full conversation below as well as some short clips.
MaceFit is a sponsor at Underground Strength Con - during the weekend, MaceFit and other partners / sponsors will be offering a discount for products and services.
Looking forward to seeing many of you at Underground Strength Con!
Enjoy this Bonus episode of The STRONG Life where we talk about physical culture and old school stretch stories from combat athletes that have inspired this style of training.
Men like The Great Gama, Karl Gotch, Bob Backlund and more......
As I mentioned to Frank in our conversation, I began implementing both 2 and 1 arm mace / club exercises almost daily during my training. In between sets, I sneak in the work - I feel this has helped my shoulder mobility and also shoulder strength.
My grip and elbows are also feeling strong.
As we get older, the worst feeling is that of aches, pains and weakness.
I also sneak in calisthenics and band training throughout every training session. In the past I have done long training cycles of Bodyweight Bodybuilding but I love the variety so I blend it all together.
And below are more videos on training styles from Karl Gotch and other combat sport legends.
At The Underground Strength Con you will have an opportunity to train with Indian Clubs and Maces as well as experience the most powerful strength and conditioning event of the year.
No fads, No gimmicks - just a gathering of 100+ BadAss Coaches networking, learning and inspiring everyone towards greatness.
See you there!
Underground Strength Con
Details HERE
The post MaceFit & Frank Dimeo 🎙️ Physical Culture, Training with Indian Clubs & Maces | Wrestling Strength w/ Bob Backlund, Karl Gotch & The Great Gama appeared first on Zach Even-Esh.
530 | CEO Strength Coach 🎙️ Ron McKeefery | Why Coaches MUST Master MORE Than Training & Coaching + What is the Future of Gyms / Strength & Conditioning? 17 Oct 3:33 AM (6 days ago)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 530
CEO Strength Coach Ron McKeefery
Why Coaches MUST Master MORE Than Training & Coaching + What is the Future of Gyms / Strength & Conditioning?
Connect with Ron:
https://www.instagram.com/rmckeefery/
Ron will be speaking at Underground Strength Con III - Don't miss out, details Here: https://UndergroundStrengthCon.com
Please enjoy the show below and a reminder; the BEST 5 star reviews are read on each podcast and are awarded a FREE Training Course!
Thank you for taking the time to support The STRONG Life Podcast!
Listen Below:
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Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE
Listen on Spotify Podcasts HERE
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And, as I love to do for those who come to the website, below is some video footage of me studying my favorite business resources. I was hesitant to share this but I know 99% of people won't watch the entire video or dare to use this information.
So, for the REAL ones who dig deep and want MORE, enjoy this behind the scenes business video:
Time to take action!
Live the Code 365,
Zach Even - Esh
Underground Strength Con III
Sign Up HERE!
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529 🎙️ Why Consuming Podcasts & Scrolling Does NOT Grow Your Gym Business + Thoughts on RFK Jr & Pete Hegseth’s Push Up / Pull Up Challenge 14 Oct 3:40 AM (9 days ago)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 529
Why Consuming Podcasts & Scrolling Does NOT Grow Your Gym Business + Thoughts on RFK Jr & Pete Hegseth's Push Up / Pull Up Challenge
https://UndergroundStrengthCon.com - Underground Strength Con coming Nov 15 & 16, 2025 at Varsity House Gym
The short version of why Coaches are still struggling, even though we have "all this information" freely available.
NO skin in the game.....
NO REAL strategies or conversations as to WHY or WHAT you need to do in your business that is specific to you.
Underground Strength Con is Brought to you by https://TurnKey.Coach
NEW: Get 2 Free Videos from The Underground Strength Coach Cert available at http://UndergroundStrengthCert.com
See you at The Underground Strength Con!!
Enjoy the show.......
My thoughts on the "fitness industry" - listen / watch below:
STRONG Life Podcast ep 529. Listen / Watch Below:
- Thoughts on the 10 minute bodyweight challenge of pull ups and push ups with RFK Jr and Pete Hegseth.
- Why are Coaches still struggling to grow their business and gain knowledge when there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of podcasts, videos and other "information" to scroll through ALL. Day. Long.
The answer will be a gut punch for many!
Watch below or listen.
BIG Thanks to ALL who leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts!
Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE
Listen on Spotify Podcasts HERE
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See You at Underground Strength Con - Details HERE
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528 🎙️ BEST Advice I Ever Got as a Strength Coach / Gym Owner 10 Oct 10:45 AM (13 days ago)
Underground Strength Con - Register HERE
Early Bird registration for Underground Strength Con ends Oct. 15th - Sign Up, Save $$ & Experience a Life Transforming Weekend.
STRONG Life Podcast 528 BEST Advice I Ever Got as a Strength Coach / Gym Owner
Underground Strength Con is Brought to you by https://TurnKey.Coach
20+ years ago I remember something something powerful that a mentor of mine said in front of hundreds of Coaches at a Ryan Lee event.
Ryan Lee's live events were absolutely amazing. We were all so hungry to learn, network, share, strategize and overall get invigorated from the energy in the room.
Ryan's events would have hundreds of Coaches in attendance, traveling from all around the world.
During his presentation, I remember Alwyn Cosgrove asked the room full of hundreds of Coaches:
Stand up if you have a Coach?
Maybe 4 Coaches stood up in a room of around 400! I was NOT one of them!
That statement hit me like a TON of bricks!
And that memory hit me again as I've been reaching out to countless Coaches who have opted in for more info on The Underground Strength Con.
When I speak with Coaches about Underground Strength Con, many are scared of stepping away for a weekend.
I have felt that fear and anxiety of stepping away and I learned, that is exactly why I must step away. It means there is a lot missing and I need better systems, more knowledge and more time for myself! YES, sometimes you just have to get away from all the day to day noise.
As a Coach, ask yourself:
- Don't we challenge athletes to get OUT of their comfort zone? Yes, ALL the time.
- Don't we challenge adults to stop fearing strength and to show up, get strong and healthy? Yes, ALL the time.
- Don't we tell athletes to show up in season, no matter how busy they are?
Yes. ALL the time.
Yes, we do all of the encouraging to our athletes but we do NOT hold ourselves to that standard of commitment.
When athletes say, "I'm too busy" - what do we say as Coaches?
We tell them to Make it happen, Stop making excuses.
Why aren't You taking your own advice?
If you're a Strength Coach or Sports Coach, keep on reading:
The strongest business tool to grow your business and impact more lives isn’t a new piece of technology or some marketing hack.
It’s your network.
The "strategy" of being around other high achievers and successful Coaches is the same power of athletes having great teammates vs being the only motivated athlete on a team.
Every time I look at moments of exceptional growth in my company it was always tied to meeting someone who had a new or great idea that I implemented in my company.
I began attending conferences and seminars from day 1 over 20 years ago.
My first live event was 8 PM - 4 AM in Ct. - Yes, going until 4 AM, you read that right!
Afterwards, we drove back to NJ and went to a Jersey Diner, then, NO sleep. I trained and worked. I was so fired up about my business and changing lives through strength that I could NOT fall asleep! That seminar fired me the F--K up!!!
I Built my website that day. Wrote another ebook. Wrote several articles. Emailed Wrestling Coaches, Football Coaches and contacted websites so I could write articles for them.
Back then (2004 - 2005) I was training athletes from my garage and backyard. I grew my membership and my online business - ALL from my garage and backyard.
I was constantly networking and surrounded by Coaches who had their own PT studio, were writing articles for magazines and more. I had NO choice but to grow.
Other memorable moments was in NYC at The Genius Network Mastermind, it was $10K for a weekend. Yes, $10K for a weekend. But, I turned that $10K into $100K before the year ended.
I knew that just ONE idea could transform my business and life. I also knew that sitting home and being "too busy" would never serve me to achieve BIG goals.
I was sitting at tables with entrepreneurs earning 10 - 100 Million per year. Yes, per year! These people elevated my level of thinking to the 100th degree and my network expanded BIG time.
Are you saying YES to average and NO to Greatness?
Comfort is the enemy. You tell it to your clients, but, do YOU truly Live it!?
See you at Underground Strength Con.
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LISTEN BELOW: The BEST Business Advice I Ever Received as a Strength Coach / Gym Owner
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LISTEN BELOW and BIG Thanks to all who have crushed a 5 star review for us, I am grateful and you help spread the word of The STRONG Life:
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At UGSC 3.0 you’ll be in the room with:
- 100+ top gym owners, coaches, and leaders to strategize, share and network - build Together! WIN Together!
- World-class sponsors like Turnkey Coach, Sorinex, Intek, Spartan, Ivanko, Ignite, Simmons Media, MaceFit, and Dynamic Strength to name a few.
- The very people who can open doors and give perspective for your next level in business and Life.
Your network = your shortcut.
This year we are honoring Louie Simmons and Westside Barbell. Every year we will pay homage to a Coach who has impacted out industry of Strength and Sports Performance.
Get in the room and Live the Code. Stop talking about it and telling others to do it and start Living it Yourself → [Sign Up HERE - Now]
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527 🎙️ WHY Underground Strength Con? Who Will “Carry the Torch?” – Louie Simmons, Bob Hoffman & Early Days Strongman Inspiration 30 Sep 3:53 AM (23 days ago)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 527
Who Will "Carry the Torch?" - Louie Simmons, Bob Hoffman & Early Days Strongman Inspiration
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Brought to you by:
The Underground Strength Con, brought to you by TURN KEY COACH
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Sponsors of The Underground Strength Con:
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Brothers in Strength and IRON,
On November 15–16, we gather for Underground Strength Con.
At Underground Strength Con, forgot about boring power points and the same ol' talking heads while you fall asleep in your chair.
At UGSC, we take the intensity, education and passion through the roof!
Of course, we are swapping training tips, building connections, and sharpening the iron…
We’re also honoring the late, great Louie Simmons — a man who left fingerprints on every weight room worth a damn.
One of Louie's favorite quotes:
He wasn’t just talking about barbells or bones. He meant in life, in spirit, in business, in coaching… If you’re not building strength, you’re breaking. Period.
My favorite Louie quote is:
Normal does NOT build a GREAT life, a GREAT business or GREAT anything.
You must break through the norms to achieve something worth a damn.
That same spirit is why I started The Underground Strength Gym in 2002 out of my garage.
My strength & conditioning education wasn’t from a university textbook.
It came from worn-out VHS tapes of Westside Barbell, reruns of World’s Strongest Man from the 70s and 80s, and the old tales of men like Jon Pal Sigmarsson.
My education came from what many talk about but only the rare few actually LIVE:
Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Ryan Lee told me,
Jon Pal’s famous roar still echoes:
That fire. That pride. That defiance. That’s what lit me up to train athletes like Gladiators, not just kids lifting weights.
And decades before that, Bob Hoffman of York Barbell was doing the same thing. He hosted the Strength & Health Picnics because he knew strength wasn’t just about numbers on the barbell… it was about community, health, and purpose.
He brought lifters, coaches, and families together because he understood something we’ve forgotten in today’s world:
"Strength unites us. Weakness isolates us."
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Listen HERE on Apple Podcasts
Listen HERE on Spotify Podcasts
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"Strength unites us. Weakness isolates us."
That’s why this November we’re coming together at The Underground Strength Con. Not just to learn, but to honor those who paved the way and to pass the torch.
If you’re a Coach or Gym Owner, a Dad, a Lifter, a Man who knows there’s more inside him — Underground Strength Con is for you.
Strong men have always gathered to sharpen one another. This is your call.
Join us Nov 15–16. Step into the brotherhood.
[Click HERE} - Reserve your spot at Underground Strength Con]
** Price Goes up October 1st **
Live the Code 365,
Zach Even - Esh
P.S. Bob Hoffman built York Barbell into the “Barbell Capital of the World” by bringing men together.
Louie built Westside into the most feared training crew in the world.
What will YOU build? It starts here.
Secure your place at The Underground Strength Con—before it’s gone.
==> Register HERE
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526 🎙️ Today’s “Sports Climate”: Football Injuries, Respect in Sport & Toughness & GRIT in Athletes 23 Sep 5:11 PM (last month)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 526
Today's "Sports Climate": Football Injuries, Respect in Sport & Toughness & GRIT in Athletes
Paul Kolody and I discuss a few key topics / concerns.
- The Football incident where after the tackle / play was over, a 300+ lb player jumped on the player he tackled, resulting in a fractured t spine. What does this mean for the schools? The Coaches? The players and his team? The parents?
- Why do we see a lack of respect for "the game" - whatever that sport is? Why do we see less toughness and less grit in athletics along with more quitting? Is "The Comfort Crisis" coming to life at an alarming rate or are we wrong?
- With the rise of injuries, especially in sports such as Football and Wrestling, why do parents still use the poor excuse of "We just don't have the time".
We have a lot of questions and the answer to these questions and concerns is to keep building athletes into Stronger, Tougher and More Durable athletes.
The fancy sh-t doesn't work.
The best training is tough and requires consistency and work ethic.
Brought to you by:
The Underground Strength Con, brought to you by TURN KEY COACH
Underground Strength Con is coming soon!
Early Bird Registration ends on October 1st!
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Sponsors of The Underground Strength Con:
Please enjoy the show and thanks to ALL the supporters who leave a 5 star review and keep on sharing The STRONG Life. You keep me going!
Listen Below:
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FOOTAGE FROM THE UNDERGROUND STRENGTH GYM
Underground Strength Con
Nov 15 - 16
The ANTI Influencer Event of the Decade
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525 🎙️ Building REAL Strength with Barbells and Bodyweight: How to Design Strength Training Programs That Deliver Results 🏆 19 Sep 4:53 AM (last month)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 525
- Barbell Strength Training for Beginners through Advanced + Program Design for Wrestlers / Combat Athletes
- Building REAL Strength with Barbells and Bodyweight: How to Design Strength Training Programs That Deliver Results 
Brought to you by ZACH STRENGTH - Get the BEST FREE Strength Training Courses HERE
The Underground Strength Con brought to you by Turn Key Coach is coming soon. Early Bird Registration goes up October 1st - Details HERE
In this episode of The STRONG Life I answer questions from a combat athlete on how to program barbell strength training.
He had purchased my Underground Strength System for Combat Athletes which is inside The Underground Strength Coach Cert and also comes with The Underground Strength Manual, our 500 page training manual loaded with years and years of training programs.
Is it 5 x 5?
Is it always 2 - 3 reps in the tank, aka EASY Strength?
Is it OK to lift heavier for 2 - 3 reps, or is speed work for 2 - 3 reps per set?
Listen and get your learn ON!
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Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE
Listen on Spotify Podcasts HERE
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Below are some excerpts from The Underground Strength Coach Cert and videos of combat athletes / Wrestlers training at The Underground Strength Gym.
What to do now?
The key is to keep reading, keep learning, keep digging deeper into the resources I have available for Coaches, Athletes and Lifters to learn from.
Use the search bar as I have several thousand articles, videos and podcasts available for you to learn from.
See you at The Underground Strength Con - STOP scrolling and STOP learning from Coaches who don't coach, don't own a gym and don't truly LIVE this.
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524 🎙️ Dad Asks Zach: “BEST Strength Training for My Son?” 💪 Teen Athlete Workouts 🏆 10 Sep 3:35 AM (last month)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 524
Dad Asks Zach: "What is the BEST Strength Training Program for My Son?" 
Teen Athlete Workouts
I love these questions and love helping Dads who are humble and open minded and want to learn how to best help their kids.
Resources are listed below.
Any questions you have, please reply to my newsletter HERE.
Brought to you by The Underground Strength Coach Cert and The Underground Strength Academy.
Listen and Watch below. This episode is great for Dads and truly ANY Coach working with teen athletes.
Enjoy!
Sample Workout / Training from my Program,
High School STRONG
3 Crucial movements we want to see on the regular with beginners and truly, ALL levels of athletes are sleds, carries and a wide variety of calisthenics.
The video below is sleds and carries. It looks simple but it is NOT easy. These should be done 3 x week for high school athletes, using a variety of tools for carries.
Listen to this episode Below:
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Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE
Listen on Spotify Podcasts HERE
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Videos / Visual Resources to see how We Train Teen Athletes at The Underground Strength Gym
Below: Excerpt on Program Design from The Underground Strength Coach Cert
If you have questions or need help with coaching / training, post your comments and questions to the forum of The Underground Strength Academy HERE or sign up for a 1 on 1 Consultation HERE.
Live the Code 365,
Zach Een - Esh
High School STRONG - Details HERE
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523 🎙️ How Athletes & Busy Dads can get STRONGER with Short Workouts 8 Sep 5:13 AM (last month)
STRONG Life Podcast ep 523
How Athletes & Busy Dads can get STRONGER with Short Workouts
Brought to you by:
ZachStrength.com - BEST FREE STRENGTH Training Courses HERE
The Underground Strength Con - Early Bird Registration Discount NOW OPEN HERE
Dad STRONG - Training for Busy Dads - 7 Days FREE - HERE
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BEST Recovery & Compression Gear - DFND USA
20% Off Code => ZACH
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In the current landscape of athletics, we are seeing limited schedules more so than ever before.
Parents are busy driving around and running around thanks to the never ending travel sports scene which is a broken model.
Athletes are stuck in cars on the run around, and if they can not train at school, anything after school is often on a time crunch.
Listen as I explain how we train busy athletes and how I train myself as well as the busy Dads inside of Dad STRONG.
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Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE
Listen on Spotify HERE
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Recommended Resources for Busy Athletes
The Underground Strength Academy
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