Strong Ambition Podcast

About Strong Ambition Podcast

You know those people who hang out at the top? The kind of people who have an internal drive to excel at everything they do? Maybe it's sports. Maybe its' academics. Maybe it's a professional career. Whatever it is....each person has their own unique story about how they became who they are. The Strong Ambition podcast is all about having conversations with high-performers, and getting to the core of what drives their ambition, so that you can apply those same lessons to your own training, nutrition and mindset.

Publisher

Rhyland Qually

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Feb 2021

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

150 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   #150 - Whiskey & Barbells: Success, Struggles, Bodybuilding & Mortality

   For the 150th episode of the Strong Ambition Podcast, I'm bringing back Whiskey & Barbells with two of my longtime friends, AJ Zeglin and Rich Girardin! We sat down for some whiskies, and what started as a reflection on the last five years of our lives turned into one of the most interesting and wide-ranging conversations we've had on the podcast. We start by discussing our careers, the challenges of building our own businesses, our biggest accomplishments, and some of the hardest experiences we've faced along the way. With our backgrounds in coaching, counselling, and physiotherapy, we also explore the importance of trust, relationships, and what actually makes someone great at helping others. Then things take a turn. We get into bodybuilding, the psychology of competition, and AJ even gives me a live physique assessment as I prepare for another bodybuilding show. But the conversation doesn't stop at fitness. We eventually dive into grief, losing loved ones, spirituality, religion, our fear of death, and what we believe might happen after we die. It's a mix of humour, personal stories, difficult conversations, and some pretty deep reflections on what makes life meaningful. If you've ever questioned what success really looks like, how to navigate life's hardest moments, or what kind of impact you want to leave behind, I think you'll really enjoy this one. Connect with my guests: Rich — @perimetertherapy (https://www.instagram.com/perimeter.therapy/) AJ — @invictuspfp (https://www.instagram.com/invictuspfp/) Episode Roadmap 04:25 – Whiskey & Barbells: Celebrating 150 Episodes! 06:30 – Reflecting on Five Years of Personal & Professional Growth 07:15 – AJ's Journey: Becoming a Counsellor & Building His Own Business 11:30 – Entrepreneurship: Is Betting on Yourself Worth It? 18:00 – What Makes a Great Coach, Therapist or Physiotherapist? 30:00 – Trust, Empathy & the Power of Genuine Relationships 42:30 – Rich's Biggest Accomplishments: Fatherhood, Business & Professional Sports 45:30 – My Biggest Accomplishments & Struggles Over the Last Five Years 51:15 – My Next Bodybuilding Competition & Building a Meal-Planning App 1:00:00 – Natural Bodybuilding, Competition & Performance-Enhancing Drugs 1:11:30 – Why Do We Put Ourselves Through Difficult Challenges? 1:17:30 – Everyone Has Their Own Version of Crazy 1:23:00 – AJ Gives Me a Live Bodybuilding Physique Assessment! 1:34:00 – Our Biggest Personal Struggles: Cancer, Family & Hardship 1:38:00 – "This Is Real Life": Learning to Accept Life's Difficult Moments 1:43:00 – Grief, Losing Loved Ones & the Questions That Follow 1:48:00 – Religion, Spirituality & What Happens After Death? 1:57:30 – The Fear of Death, Nothingness & Our Own Mortality 2:02:00 – What Kind of Impact Do We Want to Leave Behind? 2:06:30 – Loneliness vs. Solitude: Learning to Be Comfortable With Yourself 2:09:00 – What's Next? Our Current Ambitions & Future Goals 2:12:30 – Why Relationships Might Be the Most Important Part of Life

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   #149 - MMA, Bodybuilding, Powerlifting & Finding Balance in Fitness - Dino Camiré

   Dino, owner of One Family Fitness and an experienced strength coach, joins the Strong Ambition Podcast to discuss his journey through competitive judo, professional MMA, natural bodybuilding, and international powerlifting. With over 20 years of coaching experience, Dino shares how his approach to fitness has evolved from chasing physical achievements to building strength, performance, and habits that last a lifetime. We explore why powerlifting is as much a skill as it is a test of strength, the differences between bodybuilding and powerlifting, and how to balance training intensity, recovery, and nutrition when pursuing multiple fitness goals. We also dive into carbohydrate cycling, muscle glycogen, competition preparation, and why traditional water-cutting practices may be counterproductive for natural bodybuilders. Finally, Dino introduces his book, The BUILD System, and its five pillars of sustainable fitness: Train, Fuel, Move, Measure, and Belong. In This Episode, We Discuss Can almost anyone bench press 225 pounds? Dino's journey through judo, MMA, bodybuilding, and powerlifting. Why powerlifting is a skill, not just a test of muscle. The differences between bodybuilding and powerlifting communities. Balancing strength and muscle retention during a bodybuilding prep. Carbohydrate cycling, glycogen, and competition-day nutrition. Water cutting and common mistakes in natural bodybuilding. Why daily movement and strength training matter for long-term health. The five pillars of Dino's BUILD System. Why community, identity, and enjoyment are essential for lifelong fitness. @topcoachdino (https://www.instagram.com/topcoachdino/) Book link The Build System (https://www.amazon.ca/Build-SystemTM-Five-Pillar-System-Starting/dp/B0H36HGHDZ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=33HXBDB26B9YZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OK_J8CxeVjXwSzor6tNPBcJ8kztnGm0L59O7faBKX2IqJG7_Mdc27V3de52zN1WF3fB0-4EBdVNzV1Z56KZ8AxHTXkQ3Zr4_TzuSHcd7b7JVLF4BS-tVpyJ0LTB94l2rwlfdHBc8uhC1yDDbOD_MjnMqUxd8-TLXNOINvu3mHCkxXBJ4aqAhQQpXqAAfDRAlzMmktymxE9TnGBavw5G-zw8rtw7hWohCshcnXDalzowHUEq_VjaY2l8JjwT5I4tcJ_3lj7qbqOydYvVLc4BgwF1FGaZjzr3m6Pe-cazhvmY.gpN3RbpibopZGZ-45CtsIW9sgz3oFp0Fez74zsVENsc&dib_tag=se&keywords=build+system&qid=1791822767&sprefix=build+system%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-5) Episode Roadmap 00:27 – Can Almost Anyone Bench Press 225 Pounds? 03:08 – Why Powerlifting Is a Skill, Not Just Strength 05:04 – Dino's Journey Through Judo, MMA, Bodybuilding & Powerlifting 09:00 – Gamifying Fitness & Finding Motivation Beyond Appearance 11:41 – Dino's Professional MMA Career & Transition Into Coaching 14:21 – From Bodybuilding to Powerlifting 17:37 – Why the Powerlifting Community Is Different 20:38 – Building Strength, Community & Long-Term Motivation 23:04 – Can You Compete in Bodybuilding and Powerlifting at the Same Time? 24:23 – Managing Training Intensity, Volume & Recovery During a Diet 28:46 – Carbohydrate Cycling for Strength & Performance 30:40 – Carb Loading, Glycogen & Competition Preparation 34:12 – Why Pre-Workout Nutrition Is Often Misunderstood 37:19 – Why Your Nutrition Weeks Before Competition Matters More Than the Final Meal 38:55 – Water Cutting: Is It Necessary for Natural Bodybuilding? 43:49 – Rhyland's Experience With Bodybuilding Peak Week 47:13 – Introducing Dino's Book: The BUILD System 48:30 – Train & Fuel: Strength Training and Sustainable Nutrition 51:00 – Move: Why Daily Activity Matters Beyond the Gym 53:00 – Measure: Tracking Progress Beyond the Scale 54:57 – Belong: Community, Identity & Lifelong Fitness 58:31 – Rhyland's Takeaways From the Five Pillars 1:00:28 – Dino's Current Ambitions: Team Canada & Growing Powerlifting 1:02:23 – Where to Find Dino & One Family Fitness

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   #148 - Live Debate: Are Seed Oils Truly Harmful? Cherie Calbom

   Cherie Calbom, MS, nutritionist and author of The Truth About Seed Oils, joins the Strong Ambition Podcast for a friendly debate about one of the most controversial topics in nutrition: Are seed oils actually harmful? Cherie explains why she believes industrial seed oils should be avoided, while Rhyland challenges whether the human evidence supports labeling seed oils as toxic. They discuss inflammation, randomized controlled trials, anecdotes versus population evidence, beef tallow, processed foods, calories, food sensitivities, and why the overall dietary pattern may matter more than any single ingredient. Despite disagreeing on seed oils, the conversation finds plenty of common ground around whole foods, sustainable nutrition, individual differences, and the importance of actually enjoying your life and the people you share it with. In This Episode, We Discuss: Cherie’s personal health transformation and journey into nutrition. Why juicing and whole foods became central to her nutrition philosophy. The argument that seed oils oxidize and create harmful byproducts. Are seed oils actually “toxic” in the human body? What randomized controlled trials can tell us about seed oils. Biological mechanisms versus real-world human outcomes. Anecdotes, food sensitivities, and population-level recommendations. Why Rhyland believes individual ingredients are often unnecessarily villainized. Seed oils versus overall calorie intake and dietary patterns. Is beef tallow actually healthier than seed oils? Why Japan creates an interesting challenge to the seed oil argument. Correlation versus causation in nutrition research. GMOs, food processing, chemicals, and the appeal to “natural.” Why different dietary restrictions can all improve adherence for different people. Finding the right balance between whole foods and flexibility. Listening to your body and recognizing individual food sensitivities. Why relationships, community, and enjoying food also matter for health. Where Rhyland and Cherie ultimately agree despite their differences. Episode Roadmap 00:47 – Cherie’s Health Transformation & Journey Into Nutrition 04:24 – Juicing, Whole Foods & Cherie’s Current Diet 09:47 – The Truth About Seed Oils 11:01 – Why Cherie Believes Seed Oils Are Toxic 13:33 – Rhyland Challenges the Evidence Against Seed Oils 17:37 – Where Rhyland & Cherie Agree — and Disagree 19:52 – Personal Stories, Food Sensitivities & Anecdotal Evidence 22:41 – Can Seed Oils Be Part of a Healthy Diet? 25:07 – Is the Ingredient the Problem or the Overall Diet? 26:55 – Beef Tallow vs. Seed Oils 29:27 – Calories, Processed Foods & the Bigger Health Problem 30:38 – Japan: A Challenge to the Seed Oil Argument 34:30 – GMOs, Cancer & Asking What the Evidence Actually Shows 35:00 – Correlation vs. Causation in Nutrition Research 37:40 – Why Rhyland Doesn't Think Seed Oils Are the Main Problem 39:38 – Dietary Restrictions, Adherence & Finding What Works for You 41:26 – What Does “Chemical” Actually Mean in Nutrition? 42:42 – Does Natural Automatically Mean Healthier? 44:03 – How Much Processed Food Can Fit Into a Healthy Diet? 46:24 – Food Sensitivities & Individualizing Your Nutrition 48:00 – Why Relationships and Community Matter for Your Health 50:33 – Where Rhyland & Cherie Find Common Ground 52:08 – Cherie’s Current Ambition & Making Healthy Eating Enjoyable 1:XX:XX – Rhyland’s Reflection https://amzn.to/3MU4EBg (https://amzn.to/3MU4EBg) @juiceladycherie (https://www.instagram.com/juiceladycherie/?hl=en)

Who has been a guest on Strong Ambition Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jordan Smith
• Kijuan Amey
• Justin Geisler

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

56

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact Strong Ambition Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.