Woodgym with Petrone

We did it -- outdoor podcast! 

This episode is about choices -- the ones that build you, break you, and define your path.

Charles gets out of the sweat lodge conditions at the Woodgym and takes a break from the star athletes to chop it up with the Woodgym production crew in his tranquil backyard. 

Charlie sits down with West High footballer JP Peace to discuss his recent commitment to Tennessee and more.

Chef's table special! This week Charlie sat down with Chef Bruce Bogartz, a true Knoxville legend. Tune in to hear about his journey as a local chef, his challenges and victories in serving Knoxville, and what drives him to continue to lead with passion and purpose. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that gives you an inside look at what it means to be a pillar of the community! 

The guys gather once again in the office (but without the Woodgym's resident Burt Reynolds this time) for part 2 of Charlie's dive into the 10 steps he recommends when cutting away the crap and focusing on what matters!

Griff recounts the herculean efforts by locals and volunteers from around the country to coordinate relief in the Appalachian mountains after a cataclysmic storm devastated isolated East TN and NC dwellers. 

Charlie is at it again with the meditation, the mountain bike rides, the journaling -- ya'll know what that means it's time for another SOLO DOLO episode of the show! 

How would you live if you knew you only had a day or a week left? What fades away, and what becomes paramount? Charlie has tips to help you sort it all out. 

In this solo dolo episode, Charlie tries to define the mindset of a champion, drawing from his 30 years of experience working with elite athletes and successful entrepreneurs. He talks about how the best stay consistent and don't let mistakes (or success) throw them off. Petrone shares practical tips on building mental toughness and staying focused, whether you're on the field or in the boardroom.

Charlie addresses the gym and imparts some wisdom from the Woodgym office desk in a short, sweet, solo episode. 

Even though Theo Benedet had been to Tennessee before to train at the Woodgym, he wasn't prepared for what was in store the last 7 weeks. For one, Charlie still couldn't say his last name (although they got that sorted, finally). 

Listen as these two recap some of the hardest training of this dedicated footballer's career, how they got Theo sorted to play in the league, and the one piece of advice from Charles that grew to redefine how Theo saw working out. 

Charlie sits down with Ohio State football commit and Woodgymer Max to discuss his path from Montreal to Tennessee and the continuation of the Canadian Pipeline. 

The Canadian football savant is back for a second round of live-in training down south, and he and Charlie have dove into the deep end this time for 7 straight weeks. "Don't surrender to down days" has been a mantra in the gym, and it seems to be an expression that describes the cadence of these two's mad training regiment in the lead-up to the NFL combine this year. 

Charles and Theo sit down and talk about setting goals, and what it means to aim high and follow through at the highest levels of athletic performance. Wondering where t...

Charles sits down for a stirring discussion with Dr. Sprouse to talk everything from diet, training, genetics, blood work, and their new favorite pastime -- pickleball! 

This humble brainiac preaches performance knowledge gained from his time studying emergency and performance medicine (and his own time as a triathlon athlete), as well as his vast experience with elite cyclists and others who compete at the highest levels in their respective fields. 

Be sure to drop the pod a 5 star review and hit the "Subscribe" button: we might even get the Doc on for a part 2! 

Long time Woodgym-er and world-class opera singer Farrar Strum lends his powerful pipes to the show. He shares how he started singing, how he started training with Charlie, and what it's like navigating mental health challenges and repeated affirmations throughout his life and career. 

The man, the myth, the legend, The Fort! A true Woodgym OG returns to the show to chop it up with Charlie about the past, the present, and what they are aiming for in 2024. 

Charles sits down with a performance peer and partner (and new friend) to hear a real American success story. Eddie Reymond recounts one of the coolest, most winding adventures we've heard on the pod. From Switzerland, to the States, attending college in Knoxville, selling concert tickets and then baseball cards around the country, and finally diving deep into nutrition and the Health Shoppe: he shares his amazing journey with Chaz and the Woodgym fam. It's truly an inspiring tale and a rare authentic behind the scenes entrepreneurial insight. 

Check out his ZenEvo Chocolate products, and give Eddie's H...

This is a special one. Strap in and tag along as Charlie and the man, the myth, the Woodgym legend from way back, Brian DeBusk talk early days of Petrone Training. 

They dig in deep: business, healthcare, technology, Brian’s fascinating education at Vanderbilt and Emory, his current place in education at LMU, oh and they talk about training too! 

Charlie sits down with the former star Austin Peay RB and current pro footballer to get perspective on how athletes have fared through the fallout of the pandemic. They also talk training and what it takes to prepare for pro ball in the off-season. 

The Harvard DB and Charles took a break from off-season training to delve into his challenges and growth in Cambridge and the Woodgym after his first two years studying and playing Crimson football. 

The two talk training and the need for energetic discipline (all about the #vibes) and active focus on self-love in order to perform at the highest level. 

Another Emory Eagle joins the show as Claire tells Charlie about a fateful fall, how she fit in at the Woodgym, and how she plans to put an exclamation point on her basketball career while looking forward to what awaits after. 

Charlie addresses us listeners directly with a 'State of the Woodgym' address and a lesson from the heart. Quit waiting on someone else to change or meet their full potential. 

Charlie finally sits down with his childhood pal from Jersey, and they totally pick up where they left off. Rare opportunity to hear from a friend that pre-dates the training and the Woodgym!They get entrepreneurial -- Fautz walks us through his remarkable winding career and leaving a law practice to flourish in real estate. Spoiler: they talk training too. 

If you love the show, consider leaving us a 5 star review wherever you're listening (otherwise Charlie will be mad at you)

One of the latest live-in Woodgym-ers joins Charlie all the way from Miami, FL.  Listen along as Andres shares his story of finding Charlie and entrusting the Woodgym with his off-season development. Finally, Charlie unpacks some light ailurophobia (fear of cats) for us all. 

Jacob sits down and reflects on a grueling pro-day transformation and fine-tuning preparations with Charles and Griff. Find out what brought the ETSU RB from Jasper, TN out to the Woodgym. With over 1300 yds and 15 touchdowns last season, Jacob is a proven asset on offense, and showed up hungry to train and earn a chance to play on Sundays. 

Long-time Woodgym-er, footballer, and Richmond Spider Aaron comes on the show to recap his intense pro day prep with Charlie. 

Our favorite professor is back and answering all of our nutrition questions! Lee Murphy returns to the pod for a focused talk on how athletes of all ages (or even geeks like our producer, Ben) can fuel up properly for training and performance. 

Sasha returns down south with yet another exciting football player from the frigid lands of Canada. The gang catches up, hears about Theo's perspective of the pandemic as an opportunity, and discusses why they believe in their system with Charlie as a way to put their best foot forward as they strive for pro-level performance. 

Do you know how to read a food label? 

Charles sits down with nutrition expert Lee Murphy, a University of Tennessee Distinguished Lecturer specializing in nutrition and public health. 

They chat about all things  dietary and metabolic in an effort to understand the factors that influence body composition, and things we can do to achieve our goals for our bodies! 

Sneak peek: a lot of y'all need fiber...

Charlie brings in yet another og Woodgym-er in Rory Gibbs to talk 7 on 7, the Transfer Portal, and how the accelerated transformation of high school and college sports is affecting the youth who comprose these leagues. 

Charles laid down the gauntlet with the conclusion episode of the Woodgym's Mental Toughness series, calling out our youngest athletes and claiming that it's "easier than ever before to be great." Well, folks, in perhaps the quickest and most fortuitous instance of pod feedback to date, it only took a couple days for someone to retort, and this young woman even lives in his neighborhood! What?!

Brinley Murphy is Bearden's star competitor. Whether she's on the court or the field, she has the makings of a champion, and the accolades to back it up. She's joined on...

Beloved VFL and cerebral pro LB Daniel Bituli returns to the Woodgym office for his debut podcast! Listen along with Chaz and the crew for an expedition into the mind of an elite athlete. Daniel plans to launch a digital training platform that transmits honed expert knowledge of sports and situational awareness to young athletes -- augmenting and supplementing what they learn from their coaches and physical trainers. Daniel saw a need for availability and immersion that went beyond what he could accomplish in traditional private lessons with his students, and we look forward to his work on his...

What did the Woodgym learn from our series of deep dives into mental fortitude? Dr. James Choo and Charlie sit down once more at the round table to try and put a final pin in it! 

Summer break comes to an end with the Woodgym finally at a cool 86 degrees, so we had to return to podcasting. Couldn’t have asked for a more special guest than an OG Woodgym-er from back in the Homberg days: Nick Evennou. Nick is a born racer and athlete who started training with Charlie at the age of 14. He’s raced motorcycles and bikes all around the world, and shares some stories and insights. This one will need a part 2 . . .

Vinicious "Draculino" Magalhães graces the Woodgym with an extensive collection of insights gleaned throughout an unbelievable career in martial arts. 

Learn how dispirate communities of Brazilian surfers and martial artists coalesced in a pivotal moment and changed Jiu Jitsu's evolution. 

Finally, hear a definition of mental toughness from a modest but implacable athlete and competitor who has seen success both on the mat and as a trainer and mentor. 

Chaz, Choo, and the crew continue to explore the topic with Knoxville's resident biking bad*** Kaysee Armstrong. 

Kaysee's story is awesome and left us all astounded and inspired. We explore the roles of heredity and childhood in mental toughness, and hear how she transformed adversity and trauma into fuel for her outdoor adventures and stellar performances on the trails. 

Listen up and get learned! 

Charles and James get to chat once again with ten time World Champion Jiu Jitsu master Sam about mental toughness, whether it's something that can be developed. Finally, they talk about what it's like to train others across a spectrum of disciplines.

Charles and Dr. Choo get to work grilling two combat veterans about what led them to pursue military careers. Were they mentally tough when they enlisted? Did their time at Parris Island augment their temperament? Finally, what's it like experiencing combat and dealing with the memory when they're expected to plunge back into civilian life? 

We get Zach and Derek to take a break from their jiu jitsu training and answer these questions and more in this special Mental Toughness episode. 

Charles and James are joined by golf pro Alex Fourie, a guest who literally traversed the world and overcame some of the bleakest conditions imaginable to end up in the US competing in a sport he loves. 

James and Charles blast into the second half of the series with an incomparable guest appearance by James Arthur Haslam II, the founder of Pilot Corporation and much more.  

Charles and Dr. James Choo pause three episodes in to reflect on what we've learned about the mind, perseverance, and success. Is the Woodgym any closer to defining what mental toughness is?

James and Charles welcome Justin Sims, an original Petrone guy, to the show to continue the round table discussion on mental fitness. Can "manufactured" adversity shape someone's mental toughness? What role do positivity and perspective play?