The Next Level

When you lift, you change your body’s shape, right?

Well, that’s also may be how we create gender.

The Big Inside host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” tackles the fascinating topic of how changing our shape creates – and sometimes conflicts – with how society understands our gender.

We’re joined by self-proclaimed “regular guy,” collegiate wrestler Mack Beggs, as well as professors Kareem Kubchandani and Stephan Pennington to discuss how changing our body’s shape to perform gender is maybe one of the most normal aspects of just being human.

Plus, one of the coolest Little Insider segments at the end of the show. (CAT JACKET!) All this and more on this very masculine episode of The Big Inside.

TBI-115 The Most Normal Story You Ever Heard About Mack Beggs And Muscles When you lift, you change your body’s shape, right? Well, that’s also how we create gender.  We talk about it with collegiate wrestler Mack Beggs and professors Kareem Kubchandani and Stephan Pennington.

What is the most important meal of the day? The Big Inside’s show host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is betting he knows what you’re gonna say. What you’re probably not expecting is how what we think we know about breakfast may not be quite what we assumed. XN dives into the background of this nostalgic meal armed with a pack of nutrition-savvy athletes and the amazing food historian and author Heather Arndt Anderson. What we pull up might make you forget about whether or not breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but instead wonder why you thought that in the first place.

TBI-114 Arguing With the Breakfast Sheep Over What Is Really Important Show host Christian Matyi, aka "XN," versus “the most important meal of the day.” We’re tearing apart breakfast with food historian Heather Arndt Anderson and a pack of athletes who know a lot about nutrition.

What are you doing right now?
Like LITERALLY right now? And are you sure you’re doing it right?

The Big Inside’s host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is joined by professional Classical music viola player Drew Ricciardi, who’s journey brought him from the high stakes world of professional music into some interesting theories on how you’re moving your body. Or not moving.

Plus: a couple detours into history and housebuilding.

TBI-113 Doing the same thing over and over and over with violas and Drew Ricciardi The Big Inside’s host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” talks with professional viola player Drew Ricciardi, who uncovers a fascinating way to look at how your body moves, and says a bunch of complicated words.

Just how much does your personal aesthetic – the way you look to others – impact what you create?

In the second of a two-part episode of the podcast, The Big Inside, show host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is joined again by very special guest Liam O’Donnell, director, writer, and producer of 2017’s sci-fi flick “Beyond Skyline.” They unpack how, whether we know it or not, aesthetics are constantly reshaping how we represent ourselves in the world.

Please help the show out by subscribing on Spotify, iTunes, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave a review, and please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/TheBigInside.

TBI-112 The Dog's Name Is Crom. The Director's name is Liam O'Donnell, Part 2 of 2 The second of a two-part episode featuring movie director of Liam O’Donnell of 2017’s sci-fi flick “Beyond Skyline” looks at how personal aesthetics shape our perception.

From the podcast inspired by The Next Level, here's The Big Inside's latest episode:

We’re back for our tenth (we think) season! And we are opening this run of episodes with a very special guest: Liam O’Donnell, movie director, producer and writer most known for the 2017 sci fi action flick, “Beyond Skyline.”

Liam gave show host Christian Matyi (a/k/a “XN”) a whole lot of interview. So much, in fact, that we are going to present our stories with Liam in two parts. This episode is the first of two parts.

Liam shares a fascinating backstory that may shift how we perceive the power of physical aesthetics. And yes, Schwarzenegger makes an appearance in the narrative. (Because he always does, right?) The tale is a little different than you might think, and sets a stage for how he perceives the world, which sets us up to learn more about the film itself in part 2.

Be sure to leave us feedback on this episode, and please go to our Patreon page and subscribe to the show at Patreon.com/thebiginside.

TBI-111 Keeping Our Good Eye On The Alien Invasion with Liam O'Donnell – Part 1 of 2 The first of a two-part episode featuring the Schwarzneggerian backstory of Liam O’Donnell, movie director, producer, and writer of 2017’s sci-fi flick “Beyond Skyline”.

What do you REALLY know about calories?
On this week’s episode of The Big Inside, Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” gives you a (slightly sentimental) spin through the history of a common dietary term, and how it may just shift your perspective at the start of 2018.

TBI-110 Shoveling Snow On New Year's with French Industrialists and 974 Calories Happy 2018! We pick up a snow shovel, meet a French physicist from 200 years ago, and offer you a (slightly sentimental) twist on the calories you’ll use in the new year ahead.

Is the chase for prestige ruining competitive sport at the amateur level? Why are we so driven to win – and are the costs worth it?

The new season of The Big Inside is back, and show host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” has pulled together an amazing group of athletes to toss around whether chasing winning is a positive motivator, or competitive poison.

Also: we totally get invaded by a baby, and XN is hearing voices . . . All that and more as season SIX (gasp!) of The Big Inside launches!

TBI-109 Getting Totally Sold On Winning During Baby Invasions The new season of the show gathers a cast of thousands! (Well, maybe less than that.) We're trying to figure out why we get so obsessed with winning stuff. Plus: RANDOM BABY!

Men's Physique is a pointless exercise when it comes to drug-tested competitions. And it may not only be a pointless pursuit, but also highly destructive.

While more and more "insta-fame"-lusting men flock to this bastard pageant, the sport from which it emerged – bodybuilding itself – is meanwhile being deteriorated. Cause for alarm among competitors? Coach XN thinks so . . . and here's his Mr. Miyagi version of wisdom for y'all.

The bodybuilders who refuse to call themselves bodybuilders. Men's physique may be the worst thing to happen to bodybuilding. But drug-tested competitors are actually working against their own benefit most of all!

Coach has often said: "The best teachers are not those who strive to be better then those they mentor."
Well, looks like once again he has been better to buy one of his own alumni, as shows up with a stringer beard game than XN, when they ran into each other at a recent competition.
Beards are not officially part of , but maybe they should be.

@ Lexington High School (Massachusetts)

is always full of little joys.

to that time this team got its first hardware.


?

Sometimes just can't even handle how amazing are.
is one of those incredible athletes.
Truly representing great ideals, and what is all about.

We're super proud of , placing second in the Novice class at the Competition.
He accomplished the start of a lifelong goal with some help from .

Mentorship is not about commanding someone to follow and abide by what you think is best.
Membership is about being flexible and open resource.
In fact, it's in the flexibility of attitude that mentor might be regarded as a viable resource.
And what often helps maintain such flexibility is taught within .

So profoundly proud of , doing amazing work at his first competition.
A second place win with some help from

Learning the craft of is apparently serious business.

Good thing has to keep his sense of humor.

Ever notice how often bodybuilders and lifters try SO HARD to post “meaningful stories” about their experiences? Well, are these stories really valuable? Or are they just attention grabs? On today’s episode, we’re joined by Nick LeFebvre to ask: when is a lifter’s story worth telling?

TBI-108 Absolutely No Stories Were Created In The Making Of This Show When is a story about your experiences worth telling?
Powerlifter/bodybuilder Nick LeFebvre joins us to discuss the idea of
telling your own story.

So, how does your present concepts?

Knowing success in getting goes way beyond just and is .

Clowns in the back.
What would a farewell dinner for .rohann without a little bit of conspicuous mayhem?
The community of , the community, and most certainly all of us at will dearly miss having this legendary local in our city.
But we are excited to wish him well in his new career adventure!

Some men become legends by merit of glory.
Others become legends by merit of effort.rohann is a minor local legend here in , whom we're sad to see leave for greater career adventures.
But everyone at is excited for the new opportunities he'll be welcoming!

#

Sometimes, a natural talent for bodybuilding and lifting lifting can lead to, well, someone who isn’t a bodybuilder at all.

TBI-107 Drinking Seltzer in Cybernetic Hellscapes with Musclebound Artists Is what you’re best designed for – your most notable skills and assets –
necessarily what determines your best career path options? Maybe. But maybe
not.

The self-help gurus and TED talks go on and on about “being a leader.” But maybe they overthinkedified it. Kalle Beck joins the program to discuss the elements that went into becoming a true leader in the strength community, and it may be a simpler path than you originally thought.

TBI-106 Memorizing Dinosaurs and Wolverine Leadership with Kalle Beck The fancy self-improvement and success gurus may be overthinking the idea
of leadership. We talk to a strong dude with awesome hair to find out why.

If you were ever enrolled in The Next Level, you already know what this wee’s episode of The Big Inside is about.

TBI-105 Last-Minute Blow-Offs and The World's Most Valuable Human Commodity What happens when The Big inside gets blown off? We tel you what the most
valuable human commodity is, that's what!

goes well for of the , who used the that occurs after a competition to pack on more than he has ever developed.

Many are skeptical that can be achieved by methods. But the reality is consistency, passion, and constant learning are the primary tools to develop the .

And also

Think about the community at your gym. What can it tell you about how society as a whole is put together? We’re joined by Eric Dawson of Titan Barbell whose insights may lead you to some unique perspectives on what your gym culture says about society as a whole.

TBI-104 The Tug Boat And The Room With 15 People Just Like Yourself Think about the community at your gym. What can it tell you about how
society as a whole is put together?

Unexpected illness happens to the best of us. And also, apparently, to the mediocre of us, as show host Christian Matyi, aka "XN," came down with a heinous flu. So, no episode this week. We will be back next week however! Stay tuned!

TBI-103 NO EPISODE THIS WEEK! We return next week. Unexpected illness happens to the best of us. And also to the mediocre
among us. Host Christian Matyi, aka "XN," came down with a flu. So, no
episode this week. Back next week, however!

These are the food questions you never knew you had intensely strong opinions about until now.

TBI-102 Brain Farts and The Most Important Food Questions Of Our Time The human brain tends to get fixated on things. What kinds of things? Well,
in this case, some of the most important food questions ever asked!

Do you over-complicate lifting? What if you no longer had access to all the stuff you currently use; would you still be able to make progress? On this week’s episode of The Big Inside we hear how Silas Jackson’s unique entry into lifting may make us question just how much “stuff” we, ourselves, need to maintain progress.

TBI-101 The Home School That Bodybuiding Forgot with Silas Jackson An unlikely student evolves a passion for something that we usually
associate with folks who grew up in the mainstream.

Are you fed up with how social media is ruining your sport? Well, according to Cedric McMillan, it may be you who has it wrong. On this week’s episode of The Big Inside, hist Christian Matyi unpacks the unusual yet inspiring comments made by pro bodybuilder McMillan as he won this year’s Arnold, and shows how the way we listened to his positivity might hold a huge ironic twist. Meanwhile, show regular Scott Bottorff climbs a rock and tells you how to get jacked on pine trees, while fellow regular Nick LeFebvre hijacks the show’s sponsors.

TBI-100 The 8-Year-Old's Guide To Avoiding Irony With Barbarians A pro athlete with a huge audience reminded his fans that social media can
create cynicism in a community. Know how we heard about it? Through
social media.

What can you see in the patterns of your body's injury recovery? Scott Bottorff takes us on a journey through a traumatic injury that altered his direction athletically and personally.

TBI-099 Car Crashes, Big Skies and Bloodletting with Scott Bottorff What can you see in the patterns of the body's healing? Scott Bottorff
takes us on a journey through a traumatic injury that altered his direction
athletically and personally.