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Harder Than Life

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I’m Kelly Siegel, and this is Harder than Life. A podcast about self-love, self-awareness, business, and health. We tell outrageous stories and boil everything down to simple, practical advice you can start using today. Let’s get living!

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Thursday · 21 min
Why Success Still Feels Empty
What happens when you finally get everything you thought would make you happy—and still feel empty? The money, the business, the body, the success. You hit every milestone, but the feeling you were chasing never shows up. In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel gets personal about the childhood wounds that fueled his drive to win. Growing up hearing he would never amount to anything, Kelly made achievement his way of proving people wrong. He chased money, success, fitness, and recognition, only to discover that no amount of external achievement could fix what was happening inside. Kelly explores the arrival fallacy, the connection between low self-worth and relentless achievement, and how drinking, overworking, and chasing the next milestone can become ways of avoiding deeper pain. He shares the inner work that helped him understand his patterns, reconnect with his inner child, and build a different definition of success—one rooted in peace, joy, and self-worth. He also introduces a simple daily practice built around one question: Did I stay in self today? Because the numbers can be reviewed weekly, but the person behind those numbers needs attention every single day. You can achieve everything on the outside and still feel empty inside. The real work starts when you stop running from what's underneath. Have you ever reached a goal you thought would make you happy, only to realize something was still missing? Share your experience in the comments. Key Points 🟥Understanding the arrival fallacy 🟥How childhood wounds fuel achievement 🟥Why success can't fix low self-worth 🟥Recognizing drinking and overworking as symptoms 🟥Building peace through a daily self-check 00:00 Success Still Feels Empty 01:09 Welcome and Who This Is For 01:47 Childhood Wounds and Winning 02:50 Arrival Fallacy Exercise 03:44 Money Muscles Misery 06:35 Business Numbers and Worth 08:16 Two Scoreboards at Home 10:04 Drinking Was the Symptom 12:36 Get Outside Eyes on You 13:01 Meeting the Inner Child 15:20 Stay in Self Daily System 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #SelfWorth #InnerChildHealing #PersonalGrowth #ArrivalFallacy #EmotionalHealing #MentalHealth #Success #FindingPeace
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Tuesday · 57 min
What Happens When Your Entire Identity Falls Apart w/ Christina Galbato
What if the thing you're most afraid of is the very thing that could change your life? You're not afraid of failing. You're afraid of being seen, judged, rejected, or misunderstood. So you hide behind a version of yourself that feels safe, even when it doesn't feel like you. In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel sits down with Christina Galbato, entrepreneur, coach, and creator who has built an audience of more than half a million people and taught over 20,000 students across nearly 100 countries. Christina opens up about building an eight-figure business, experiencing an ego death, and losing the identity she had built around money and relationships. What followed was a spiritual awakening and a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically. Together, Kelly and Christina unpack childhood wounds, people-pleasing, addiction, shame, and the fear of being seen imperfectly. They explore why strategy without inner work can lead to self-sabotage, why feeling your emotions is part of healing, and how to stop looking outside yourself for validation and safety. Christina also shares how discipline has changed for her, why speaking your truth matters, and what it takes to build relationships from a healthier place. You can't become the fullest version of yourself while hiding from the parts you're afraid to show. What's one part of yourself you've been afraid to let people see? Share it in the comments. Key Points 🟥Why we hide behind masks and seek validation 🟥How childhood wounds shape identity and relationships 🟥Why inner work must come before strategy 🟥Turning shame into self-expression 🟥Building confidence through self-love and honest action Main Points: 00:00 Intro 02:59 Masks Filters and Validation 08:40 Ego Death Awakening 16:14 Why Visibility Terrifies Us 18:03 Childhood Wounds and Shrinking 22:13 Therapy EMDR and Somatics 31:39 Color Naming and Detachment 32:52 Different Levels Different Devils 34:18 Family Trauma Cycle Breaker 35:46 Against All Odds Mindset 36:30 Ready Is a Lie 38:02 Authentic vs Oversharing 42:17 Peace and Hungry to Win 43:47 Visibility Changes Everything 51:12 Dating Patterns and Standards 54:53 Healed Dating Pool Shrinks 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #ChristinaGalbato #FearOfBeingSeen #InnerWork #SelfExpression #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalHealing #SelfWorth #Authenticity #HealingJourney
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October 29 · 20 min
Are Your Supplements a Waste of Money?
How do you know if a health product actually works—or if you’re just being sold a promise? Your social media feed is full of supplements, gadgets, and programs promising better health, more muscle, and peak performance. But where’s the proof? In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel pulls back the curtain on the health and wellness industry, sharing the lessons he learned after spending thousands on products, programs, and shortcuts that didn’t deliver. From misleading marketing to questionable testimonials, Kelly explains why looking fit doesn’t automatically make someone an expert—and why a discount code shouldn’t replace evidence. Kelly breaks down three questions everyone should ask before buying anything for their body, business, or life: Show me the proof. What do you guarantee? And who pays if you’re wrong? He also shares how he applies these principles in his own business, why transparency matters, and how measuring real results can help you make smarter decisions. Stop buying the promise. Ask for the proof. What’s the most expensive health product or program you bought that turned out to be all promise? Share it in the comments. Key Points 🟥Spotting the sales pitch behind health advice 🟥Asking for proof before buying 🟥Measuring results with clear baselines 🟥Demanding guarantees with deadlines 🟥Knowing who pays when a product fails 00:00 Your Feed Is Selling 00:48 Meet Kelly And The Promise 01:41 Steroid Accusations And Shortcuts 02:35 Pew Data And Targeting Men 04:13 Three Questions Framework 04:26 Question One: Show Proof 06:56 How To Measure Baselines 08:24 Question Two: Guarantees 10:13 Setting Dates And Terms 12:12 Question Three: Who Pays 13:23 Disclosure And Conflicts 15:01 NTM Example Guarantees 17:43 Recap And Final Challenge 19:16 Wrap Up And Call To Action 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #HealthAndWellness #HealthSupplements #ConsumerAwareness #Fitness #MensHealth #HealthMarketing #CriticalThinking #PersonalGrowth
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October 27 · 1 hr 1 min
Chris Lee on Turning Your Biggest Breakdowns Into Breakthroughs
What if the breakdown you're trying to hide is actually the breakthrough you've been waiting for? And what if your need to be right, look successful, and stay in control is keeping you from the life you really want? In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel sits down with Chris Lee, a transformational coach with more than 30 years of experience helping people turn breakdowns into breakthroughs. They explore why insecurity hides behind ego, how shame and denial keep people stuck, and why even high achievers can be successful on paper but unfulfilled inside. Chris shares how recognizing your triggers, embracing vulnerability, and taking responsibility can open the door to real personal growth. Chris also opens up about childhood trauma, survivor's guilt, betrayal, and losing his mother. He explains how gratitude, forgiveness, and changing the meaning we attach to painful experiences can help us reclaim our power. Together, Kelly and Chris challenge you to stop chasing success through endless doing and start developing your self-worth, shifting your energy, and choosing how you want to show up in life. Your breakdown can become your breakthrough. Own it, forgive yourself, and choose what happens next. What's one breakdown that ended up teaching you something important about yourself? Share your experience in the comments. Key Points 🟥Breaking through insecurity and shame 🟥Turning breakdowns into breakthroughs 🟥Taking responsibility without self-judgment 🟥Using gratitude and forgiveness to reclaim your power 🟥Choosing self-worth over net worth 00:00 Intro 01:35 Insecurity & Ego 03:16 Shame and Denial 06:15 Inside the Breakthrough 08:27 Triggers to Breakthroughs 10:09 Pivot Role Play 13:50 Breakdown To Blessing 17:31 Accountability and Friends 22:01 Guilt & Survivor Stories 25:20 Gratitude and Boundaries 31:23 Letting Go of Betrayal 33:28 Kind Over Right 34:38 Being Creates Results 37:32 Shift Your Energy 40:40 Forgiveness Frees You 43:14 Self Worth Over Net Worth 47:02 Accountability As Love 51:00 Abundance And Gratitude 53:43 Meaning And Interpretation 59:44 Memento Mori Rapid Fire 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #ChrisLee #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfWorth #Accountability #Forgiveness #Mindset #Breakthrough
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October 22 · 20 min
The Day The Gym Stopped Working
What happens when the very thing keeping you strong becomes the thing helping you hide? And what do you do when discipline, workouts, and pushing through are no longer enough? In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel opens up about how fitness helped him survive a painful childhood, build confidence, and keep moving forward. But behind the workouts and the discipline, he was still carrying unresolved trauma, anxiety, and pain. He shares how fitness became both his armor and his hiding place, why being physically fit doesn't always mean being mentally well, and how therapy, coaching, and the support of others helped him face what exercise alone couldn't fix. Kelly also shares the lessons he learned through panic attacks, his journey to sobriety, and the importance of asking for help before you reach your breaking point. He leaves you with a simple three-step rule for your hardest days: lower the bar, call one person, and reach out to qualified help when you need it. On the worst day, 50% counts. Move, then call one person. You are not alone. Who's the strong person in your life who might need someone to check on them today? Share this episode with them, and let them know they don't have to carry everything alone. Key Points 🟥How fitness helped Kelly build confidence while carrying unresolved childhood trauma 🟥Why being physically fit doesn't necessarily mean you're mentally well 🟥How panic attacks revealed that discipline and workouts weren't enough 🟥Why therapy, coaching, vulnerability, and human connection matter in the healing process 🟥Kelly's three-step rule for the hardest days: lower the bar, call someone, and seek qualified help when needed. 00:00 Intro 03:42 When Fitness Becomes a Hiding Place 06:59 The Breaking Point and Panic Attacks 10:02 Finding Real Help and Asking for Support 13:18 The Darkest Day of My Sobriety 17:06 The Three-Step Rule for Bad Days 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #MentalHealth #FitnessAndMentalHealth #HealingJourney #ChildhoodTrauma #AnxietyRecovery #Sobriety #Therapy #PersonalGrowth
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October 20 · 1 hr 8 min
Inner Propaganda, Identity & the Stories We Tell Ourselves w/ Owen Fitzpatrick
What if the story you keep telling yourself is the thing keeping you stuck? Owen Fitzpatrick joins Kelly Siegel on Harder Than Life to explore limiting beliefs, identity, self-talk, and the hidden stories that shape how we see ourselves and what's possible for us. Owen explains why even highly intelligent people can become experts at rationalizing beliefs that hurt them, how “that's just the way I am” can become a trap, and why changing behavior often starts with changing the identity underneath it. Kelly and Owen also discuss propaganda, emotional resilience, perfectionism, overthinking, and how we can learn to recognize our thoughts without automatically believing them. Owen shares ideas from his book Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times. Your thoughts aren't always telling you the truth. What belief about yourself are you ready to question? Key Points 🟥 How limiting beliefs keep you stuck 🟥 Why smart people rationalize bad beliefs 🟥 The identity behind behavior change 🟥 Why perfectionism can become toxic 🟥 How to question the stories you believe 00:00 Intro 09:55 Living With The Dictator 12:48 Brain Built For Survival 17:48 Escapes And The Sacred Pause 19:11 Beliefs Come From Feelings 22:39 Tribe Loyalty And Identity 28:08 Smart People Rationalize Pain 30:39 Identity Stories & Smoking 34:22 Perfectionism Inner Propaganda 46:15 Stop 'Hollywooding' Problems 53:22 Control Influence Accept 57:11 Surrender And Trust 01:02:59 Win The Mind War 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com Owen Fitzpatrick: ⚫ Website: https://www.owenfitzpatrick.com/ #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #OwenFitzpatrick #LimitingBeliefs #Mindset #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #Psychology #InnerPropaganda #MentalHealth
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October 15 · 16 min
Why Your Body Feels Like It's Failing
What if you could test your physical health in just two minutes? In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel shares four simple at-home fitness tests to assess your balance, mobility, strength, and functional fitness—plus why one of the biggest mistakes high achievers make is focusing only on what’s wrong. From the standing sock test to waist-to-height ratio, push-ups, and getting up from the floor without using your hands, Kelly explains what these simple challenges can reveal and how to track your progress over time. The goal isn't to beat yourself up over what you can't do. It's to establish a baseline, build what you've lost, and recognize how far you've come. Four tests. Two minutes. One score to beat next month. Which test do you think will challenge you the most? Key Points 🟥Four simple tests to assess functional fitness 🟥Why balance and mobility matter as you age 🟥Why waist measurements can tell a different story than the scale 🟥What push-ups can reveal about your fitness baseline 🟥How to track progress instead of focusing on flaws 00:00 Intro 01:59 Truth About TRT And Body Progress 04:22 Test Your Balance With Standing Socks 06:35 Measure Waist Size Instead Of Weight 08:37 Harvard Study On Pushups And Health 11:16 The Floor Sit To Stand Test 13:50 Track Your Progress Monthly 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #FunctionalFitness #HealthyAging #Mobility #Balance #FitnessOver40 #Longevity #PhysicalHealth
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October 13 · 59 min
Anxious Attachment Makes You Chase People Who Can't Love You Back | Sabrina Zohar
Why do we keep chasing people who can't love us back? If you keep attracting emotionally unavailable partners, obsessing over unanswered texts, people-pleasing, or repeating the same painful relationship patterns, the problem may have started long before your last relationship. In this episode of Harder Than Life, relationship coach and bestselling author Sabrina Zohar explains how childhood experiences shape adult relationships, why self-abandonment feels like love, and how your nervous system quietly influences the people you're drawn to. Kelly Siegel and Sabrina explore the psychology behind anxious attachment, trauma responses, people-pleasing, boundaries, emotional regulation, and why so many of us mistake anxiety for chemistry. They also break down what actually happens in your brain when someone doesn't text back, why "if they wanted to, they would" is often harmful dating advice, and how to stop repeating relationship patterns that no longer serve you. If you're working to heal childhood wounds, build healthier relationships, stop overthinking, or finally trust yourself in dating, this conversation offers practical tools you can start using today. vs. This Episode Covers 🟥 Why you keep repeating unhealthy relationship patterns 🟥 Anxious attachment and relationship anxiety 🟥 Self-abandonment and people-pleasing 🟥 Why emotionally unavailable partners feel familiar 🟥 Nervous system regulation during conflict 🟥 Red flags vs. emotional triggers 🟥 Why modern dating advice often backfires 00:00 Intro 02:07 Bathroom Floor Breakdown 06:19 Spotting the Pattern 09:57 Your Relationship Blueprint 15:24 You Are Not Broken 22:04 Repetition Compulsion 25:33 Red Flags vs Triggers 29:40 Quick Grounding Techniques 31:07 Dating Advice Backlash 32:48 Myths That Reject Good People 34:28 Buzzword Therapy Culture 36:52 Two-Minute Spiral Reset 38:34 Boundaries Versus Walls 40:49 Choosing Yourself Costs... 43:33 Past Explanation, Not Excuse 44:55 Healing Beyond Instagram 47:04 No Endgame to Healing 51:21 Relationships Mirror Your Work 54:47 Book Takeaway and Roadmap 56:28 Rapid Fire And Farewell Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.siegel.71/ ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 🔴 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697 🔴 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS 🔴 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcD Sabrina Zohar: Website: https://sabrinazohar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrina.zohar 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about relationships, emotional healing, childhood trauma, leadership, mental health, and becoming harder than life. #SabrinaZohar #RelationshipAdvice #AnxiousAttachment #ChildhoodTrauma #PeoplePleasing #Boundaries #EmotionalHealing #DatingAdvice #MentalHealth #HarderThanLife
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October 8 · 23 min
My Entire Life Changed the Day I Quit Drinking
What happens when the thing you're using to escape your feelings becomes the thing holding you back? In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel gets brutally honest about the day he quit drinking—and why quitting alcohol was only the beginning of his healing. Kelly shares what his life looked like before sobriety, the relationships and red flags he ignored, and what happened when removing alcohol forced him to finally face the feelings he'd spent years running from. He also explores the different ways we numb ourselves—from alcohol and cannabis to scrolling, sex, isolation, partying, and even overtraining—and why real healing starts when we stop avoiding what's underneath. You don't have to hit rock bottom to decide you've had enough. What are you using to avoid feeling what needs to be felt? Key Points 🟥 Why quitting alcohol wasn't the end of the problem 🟥 How emotional avoidance keeps you stuck 🟥 The hidden ways we numb ourselves 🟥 Why healing can change your relationships 🟥 How Kelly found peace on the other side 00:00 Intro 02:36 High-Functioning Addiction Daily Routine 05:27 Turning Point Key West NYE Epiphany 10:03 Navigating Detox Anxiety and Past Trauma 12:49 Overcoming Lockdown Temptation 16:48 Helping Others Heal and Find Peace 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #Sobriety #AlcoholAddiction #EmotionalHealing #EmotionalAvoidance #Healing #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth
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October 6 · 1 hr 1 min
Why Success Sometimes Means Leaving People Behind w/ Rhonda Klch
What room have you already outgrown? Rhonda Klitsch joins Kelly Siegel on Harder Than Life to talk about success, relationships, growth, and the uncomfortable reality of leaving behind people and environments that no longer align with who you're becoming. Rhonda shares how she learned to recognize misalignment, why growth often requires entering unfamiliar rooms, and how masterminds helped her find people who challenged her, supported her, and understood where she was going. Kelly and Rhonda also discuss vulnerability, accountability, knowing when a season has ended, and why success isn't just about building bigger businesses. It's about building a life that's actually aligned. Rhonda also explains why she created MentorBox, a platform built around access to vetted mentors, real experience, and human connection in a world she describes as being in a “trust recession.” Sometimes growth means leaving the room. Sometimes it means finding a better one. Key Points 🟥How to know when you've outgrown a room 🟥Why growth can require leaving relationships behind 🟥How to find your people in unfamiliar rooms 🟥Knowing when a season has ended 🟥Why building your tribe matters 00:00 Intro 01:44 Success Has a Price 03:25 Who Comes With You 04:55 Craving Peace Now 06:50 Healing the Inner Teen 09:44 Gratitude Without Access 12:43 Earning Back Trust 16:26 Toxicity and Accountability 19:18 New Rooms and the Unknown 24:01 The Moment to Leave 28:15 Vulnerability in the Room 33:02 Season Ending Or Quitting 36:21 MentorBox Origin Story 41:37 How MentorBox Works 43:44 Vetting Heart Centered Mentors 46:36 Pricing Tiers And Events 51:34 Defining The Trust Recession 54:04 Leadership Versus Business 55:22 Ceiling Of Business & Healing 57:02 Perseverance Accountability And Meaning 58:42 What Harder Than Life Means for Rhonda 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com Rhonda Klitsch / MentorBox: ⚫ Website: https://mentorbox.com/ #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #RhondaKlitsch #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Mentorship #Relationships #Success #Mindset
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October 1 · 15 min
How Lack Of Sleep Affects Your Mind, Body, and Leadership
What if the thing you call work ethic is actually working against you? For years, Kelly Siegel treated sleep like a weakness. Four or five hours a night, caffeine, stress, and nonstop work became a badge of honor. He thought he was sacrificing sleep for success. Instead, he was starving the very system his business, body, and relationships depended on. In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly gets brutally honest about what years of poor sleep cost him—from a short temper and reactive decisions to anxiety, exhaustion, and chaos. He shares what changed when he stopped relying on willpower and built a sleep system he could actually maintain. The biggest lesson? Exhaustion isn't a badge of honor. It's data. If you've been wearing your short nights like a medal, what do you think your body is trying to tell you? Key Points: 🟥Why short sleep isn't a badge of hard work 🟥How exhaustion affected Kelly's temper and decisions 🟥Why systems work better than willpower 🟥The three biggest changes Kelly noticed after improving his sleep 🟥The seven-night sleep challenge 00:00 Sleep as a Badge 02:11 Caffeine and Chaos 05:11 The Bottleneck Mirror 06:41 Alcohol and Panic Receipts 08:58 Track Sleep Like Revenue 10:25 Build a Sleep System 11:20 Three Payoffs of Rest 11:55 Sleep and Temper 12:54 Doctor Checks And Cortisol 13:40 Seven Night Challenge 14:12 Wrap Up and Call to Action 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #Sleep #SleepHealth #Recovery #Performance #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #WorkLifeBalance #MensHealth
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September 29 · 1 hr 5 min
The Root Causes Behind Gut Health, Stress, & Burnout | Rachel Scheer
Your body keeps receipts. The question is whether you're willing to read them. In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel sits down with functional medicine nutritionist Rachel Scheer to unpack the health crisis that hit her when she was at the peak of her fitness career. Despite training hard, eating clean, and doing everything she thought was right, Rachel was dealing with severe gut issues, hormonal problems, and declining health—and was eventually told she may need her entire large intestine removed. Rachel shares what happened when she stopped looking only at the symptoms and started looking deeper at lifestyle, stress, gut health, environment, and the core identities driving her behavior. The conversation also explores sleep, chronic stress, food quality, gut health, perfectionism, and why discipline can become destructive when it's rooted in never feeling “enough.” This isn't about doing more. It's about learning to recognize when the thing that made you successful is also the thing that's hurting you. What part of your life looks healthy on the outside but feels completely different on the inside? Key Points 🟥Why peak fitness doesn't always mean peak health 🟥How chronic stress can affect the body 🟥Why your deepest patterns can show up physically 🟥The difference between perfectionism and excellence 🟥Why sleep may be the biggest health lever 00:00 Intro 02:30 The Hidden Cost of Pushing 03:57 Peak Fitness Health Collapse 06:31 Colon Removal Ultimatum 08:14 Getting Down To The Root Cause 12:27 Core Wounds Chronic Stress 14:19 Inner Child Awareness Work 18:57 Conscious Choice Rewiring 21:27 Sick Care vs Healthcare 23:34 Biggest Levers Sleep First 26:53 Toxins Food Oxidative Stress 29:41 Eat Real Food Dirty Dozen 33:13 Leaky Gut Explained 36:00 Sleep Reset 38:02 Sleep Aids and CBD 41:14 Sleep Hygiene Blueprint 43:32 Night Routine Upgrades 46:09 Food Timing and HRV 48:44 Microbiome Mashup Hack 52:39 Perfectionism vs Excellence 54:34 Panic Attack Wakeup Call 57:30 Masculine-Feminine Balance 01:00:47 Surrender and Body Trust 01:03:33 Rapid Fire and Wrap 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com Rachel Scheer: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelscheer ⚫ Website: https://rachelscheer.com/ #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #RachelScheer #FunctionalMedicine #GutHealth #SleepHealth #Stress #Nutrition #Wellness #PersonalDevelopment
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September 24 · 12 min
How to Stay Strong and Fit After 50
What standard are you taking back? In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel challenges the idea that getting older automatically means getting weaker, softer, or less capable. He shares his own journey from feeling worse at 40 to feeling better in his 50s—and the standards he had to rebuild along the way. Kelly breaks down the difference between having goals and having standards, why sleep and recovery became a bigger part of his discipline, and what he learned after pushing himself through 555 workouts. Getting older didn't mean giving up—it meant learning how to train smarter. The goal isn't to pretend you're 25 forever. It's to stop using age as an excuse to quietly lower the standard. Pick one standard you've retired. It's time to take it back. Key Points 🟥Why aging can become an excuse for lowered standards 🟥The difference between goals and non-negotiable standards 🟥Why sleep and recovery changed Kelly's results 🟥What 555 workouts taught him about smarter discipline 🟥The one standard Kelly refused to lower 00:00 Intro 01:58 Low T and Lost Power 02:53 Mirror Moment and Identity Shift 04:04 Pandemic Proof Standards 05:49 Sleep: The Real Upgrade 07:08 The 555-Workout Wakeup 08:28 Smarter Discipline After 50 09:39 Nutrition Hydration Mobility Basics 10:30 The One Standard Never Lowered 10:54 Challenge And Final Sendoff 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #Aging #FitnessOver40 #FitnessOver50 #Discipline #Mindset #HealthyAging #StrengthTraining
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September 22 · 58 min
She Left a 16-Year Banking Career to Build Her Own Business | Rachel Garcia
The hardest part isn't always taking the leap. Sometimes it's staying in the unknown long enough to see what you're building. In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel sits down with Rachel Garcia, a former banker who spent 16 years inside major financial institutions before walking away from the security and building her own businesses. Today, she has closed over $100 million in commercial real estate financing and built a software platform designed to make commercial lending faster. Rachel opens up about the fear and uncertainty behind taking the leap, the years of setbacks that tested her, and how a failed first attempt at building her software eventually became part of the foundation for something bigger. She also shares why discipline, faith, routine, and learning to trust the process kept her moving when the results weren't there yet. This conversation is about entrepreneurship, commercial real estate, AI, failure, purpose, and the uncomfortable space between knowing you want more and actually going after it. What are you calling “safe” that you already know you need to leave? Key Points 🟥Why security can become your ceiling 🟥How to take action when fear wants control 🟥Why invisible progress tests your belief in yourself 🟥How failure can create something better 🟥Why discipline matters when results are slow 00:00 Intro 06:02 Why Banks Say No 09:50 Fear Control and Unknown 13:18 Discipline When It Gets Hard 18:11 Built to Not Quit 21:34 CRE Underwriting Software 31:03 Who The Platform Serves 32:12 Deal Collapse Case Study 34:13 AI Screening And Better Loans 35:37 Three Businesses Explained 37:57 Vendor Lessons And Hiring 40:53 Love Life And Alignment 48:31 Dating Non Negotiables 53:02 Final Advice And Rapid Fire 57:03 Closing Challenge And Links 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com Rachel Garcia: ⚫ Website: http://app.crecapitalfinders.com/ 🔴 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cre_capital/?hl=en #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #RachelGarcia #Entrepreneurship #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #Business #Entrepreneur #AI #Mindset
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September 17 · 15 min
Why Your Belly Won’t Go Away After 40 Even If You Train and Eat Clean
What if your stubborn belly fat has less to do with food than you think? In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel breaks down the connection between chronic stress, recovery, overtraining, and stubborn belly fat—and why simply working harder isn't always the answer. Kelly shares what changed when he stopped adding more workouts and started addressing the stress underneath them. He explains the three changes that made the biggest difference: doing the inner work, redesigning his calendar, and making recovery non-negotiable. If you're training hard but your body isn't changing, it may be time to look at what's happening outside the gym. Key Points 🟥Why more effort doesn't always mean better results 🟥How chronic stress can affect your body 🟥Why high performers can get stuck in the stress cycle 🟥The three changes Kelly made 🟥Why protecting your peace matters 00:00 Intro 00:33 Why Effort Fails 02:17 Cortisol Science 40+ 04:51 High Performer Trap 06:15 Overtraining Reality Check 07:01 Same Workouts, New Body 08:37 Audit Your Stressors 09:54 Three Changes, No Food 13:03 Homework and Peace 14:54 Final Recap and Subscribe! 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about relationships, emotional growth, healing, leadership, mental health, and becoming Harder Than Life. If you know someone who works hard but still feels stuck, send them this episode. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com 🔴 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697 🔴 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS 🔴 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcDg #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #Stress #BellyFat #Cortisol #Overtraining #Longevity #HealthOptimization
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September 15 · 58 min
How to Reinvent Yourself When Your Old Identity Stops Working | Andrea Petrone
The identity that got you here may not be the identity that gets you there. In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel sits down with Andrea Petrone, the “CEO Whisperer,” to unpack what pressure reveals about leaders, why high performers can become trapped by their own identity, and what happens when the version of you that created your success is no longer enough. Andrea explains why knowing what you stand for matters more than having a vague sense of purpose, how perception can become a leadership trap, and why even successful CEOs privately struggle with unworthiness, shame, and the fear that they aren't good enough. They also dive into quiet leadership, intentional listening, ego, being needed, failure, and the process of evolving your leadership identity when the context around you changes. What part of your old identity might you need to outgrow? Key Points 🟥Why pressure reveals your identity 🟥How to recognize when your old identity no longer serves you 🟥Why perception can become a leadership trap 🟥The hidden shame and unworthiness behind high achievement 🟥How quiet leadership and intentional listening create influence 00:00 Intro 01:41 Meet the CEO Whisperer 02:22 Pressure Reveals Identity 06:41 What You Stand For 11:00 Defining Moments and Old Armor 14:35 Becoming Complete With the Past 22:38 Standards That Intimidate 25:51 Perception the Biggest Trap 27:44 Unworthiness and CEO Shame 30:35 Polished Lies vs Heart 33:05 Substance Coping Patterns 35:05 Burnout and CEO Health 40:54 Speak Less Land More 43:12 Quiet Leadership Listening 47:45 Ego and Being Needed 49:02 Identity Check and Failure 51:01 Why We Lie To Ourselves 51:57 Setbacks And Reinvention 54:22 Book Links and Rapid Fire 57:10 Final Takeaways Goodbye 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that help you heal, lead, and live Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ 🔴 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com Andrea Petrone: ⚫ Website: https://andreapetrone.com/ 🔴 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreapetrone #HarderThanLife #KellySiegel #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CEO #Identity #PersonalGrowth #QuietLeadership #SelfAwareness
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September 10 · 17 min
Discipline vs Motivation: The Rule That Built My Business
What if motivation isn't the thing holding you back? You can know exactly what you want, consume endless motivational content, and still never take the action that changes your life. In this solo episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly Siegel explains why motivation is unreliable—and why discipline, systems, and keeping your word are what actually create lasting progress. Kelly shares how he spent years waiting to feel ready before making important moves, only to realize that confidence doesn't come before action. Action builds confidence. He breaks down why reliable people outperform talented people, how showing up on bad days builds trust, and why businesses can't depend on one person's mood or motivation to function. Kelly also explains how implementing systems like EOS helped NTM operate without everything depending on him. Then he reveals the one rule he says changed everything: Do what you say you're going to do every single time. Not when it's convenient. Not when you feel like it. Every time. Kelly explains how keeping small promises to yourself builds confidence, strengthens self-trust, and eventually changes the way you show up in business, relationships, family, and life. If you've been waiting for motivation, confidence, the right time, or the perfect conditions to start, this episode is your reminder that readiness is irrelevant once you've given your word. Key Points 🟥 Why motivation doesn't create lasting change 🟥 How action builds real confidence 🟥 Why reliability beats talent 🟥 How systems create consistent results 🟥 The rule that builds self-trust 00:00 Intro 02:21 How Action Creates Real Confidence 04:52 Why Reliability Beats Smart Talent 06:59 Building Systems To Scale Your Business 10:05 The Single Rule For Complete Success 14:49 How To Keep Promises To Yourself 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about discipline, personal growth, leadership, mindset, business, and becoming Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com 🔴 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697 🔴 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS 🔴 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcD #Motivation #Discipline #SelfDiscipline #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #Confidence #BusinessSystems #Leadership #SelfImprovement #HarderThanLife
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September 8 · 56 min
Why Your Body Can Heal Without Surgery: A Neurosurgeon's Guide to Peptides | Dr. Jeff Gross
What if surgery isn't always the answer? Dr. Jeff Gross joins Kelly Siegel on Harder Than Life to talk about his journey from more than 20 years as a neurosurgeon to regenerative medicine—and why he believes the body may have more ability to heal than we've been taught to believe. Kelly and Dr. Gross break down peptides, BPC-157, GHK-Cu, longevity, mitochondrial health, NAD+, exosomes, stem cells, peptide sourcing, regulation, and the risks of using peptides without proper medical guidance. Most importantly, Dr. Gross explains why understanding the science matters before following the latest health trend online. At the center of the conversation is a simple message: Don't follow the hype. Understand the science. Key Points 🟥Why surgery isn't always the answer 🟥What peptides actually do 🟥The risks of unregulated peptides 🟥How to evaluate peptide sourcing and safety 🟥Why the basics still matter for longevity 00:00 Intro 05:40 Aging Pain And Chronic Inflammation 09:19 Peptides Myths And Safety Basics 12:21 Peptides Explained From Proteins 19:58 Why Peptides Are Trending Now 23:01 BPC Not Banned FDA Clarification 29:28 Why GHK-Cu Matters 34:25 Growth Hormone Peptides 38:43 Mitochondria Repair Peptides 44:20 Thymus and Immune Aging 45:56 Exosomes Over Stem Cells 50:14 Free Longevity Basics 52:08 Doctor's Own Protocol 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about relationships, emotional growth, healing, leadership, mental health, and becoming Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com 🔴 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697 🔴 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS 🔴 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcDg Dr. Jeff Gross: ⚫ Website: https://recellebrate.com 🔴 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifixspines/ #HarderThanLife #DrJeffGross #Peptides #RegenerativeMedicine #Longevity #BPC157 #HealthOptimization
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September 3 · 16 min
I’m 50 and These 5 Habits Improved My Physique the MOST
What if getting in the best shape of your life has less to do with training harder? At 50, Kelly Siegel says he's in the best shape of his life—and it wasn't because he suddenly started working out harder. After years of training, he realized the biggest changes were happening outside the gym. In this episode of Harder Than Life, Kelly breaks down the five habits that changed his body, energy, recovery, and performance. From learning to sleep like it's your job to changing the way he fuels his body, tracking his progress, and ultimately giving up alcohol, Kelly explains why the gym was never the real bottleneck. The message is simple: you don't need a more complicated plan. You need better habits and the consistency to follow through. Key Points 🟥 Why training harder wasn't enough 🟥 Why sleep became Kelly's biggest physical game-changer 🟥 How nutrition systems beat daily willpower 🟥 Why tracking creates accountability and confidence 🟥 How sobriety changed his fitness results Main Points: 00:00 Intro 03:04 Lift Heavy, Hard, and Fast 05:46 Sleep Like It's Your Job 07:34 Fuel Cheat Codes & Tracking Metrics 10:23 Understanding Hormone Therapy and Fitness Peptides 12:25 How Sobriety Improves Physical Fitness Results 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about relationships, emotional growth, healing, leadership, mental health, fitness, and becoming Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com 🔴 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697 🔴 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS 🔴 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcD #Fitness #FitnessHabits #HealthyHabits #MensFitness #Sleep #Nutrition #Sobriety #Discipline #HarderThanLife
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September 1 · 1 hr 2 min
Joi+Blokes CEO Josh Whalen Reveals Why Men & Women Are Getting Their Health Wrong
What happens when “normal” doesn’t actually feel healthy? Josh Whalen joins Kelly Siegel on Harder Than Life to talk about the health issues that changed his life, the experience that helped save his marriage, and how that journey eventually led him to build Blokes and Joy. Josh shares what happened when he was carrying extra weight, struggling with his energy and sex drive, and repeatedly being told by doctors that nothing was wrong. One deeper health assessment changed the direction of his life—and eventually became the foundation for a company that grew into a major health and wellness business. Kelly and Josh also get into testosterone, longevity, diagnostics, sleep, GLP-1s, peptides, compounding pharmacies, regulation, and the risks of buying research-grade products without proper medical oversight. Most importantly, Josh shares the advice he wishes he had followed sooner: Be honest with yourself. Because sometimes the first thing standing between you and better health isn't a lack of information. It's refusing to admit that something needs to change. Key Points 🟥 When “normal” doesn't mean healthy 🟥 The health wake-up call that changed Josh's life 🟥 Why sleep still matters in optimization 🟥 The risks of unregulated peptides 🟥 Why honesty with yourself comes first Main Points: 00:00 Intro 01:40 Symptoms and Wake Up Call 06:54 Testosterone Turning Point 09:40 Joi+Blokes Launch 15:57 Why Labs Mislead 17:52 GLP-1s and Modern Obesity 20:19 How the Program Works 21:59 Marriage Strain and Stigma 26:14 The Edge Of Joi+Blokes 29:40 What Saved Their Marriage 31:10 PEPs Regulation Explained 36:22 Regulation Trust Debate 40:22 Most Dangerous Black Market Orders 44:34 GLP-1 Misuse and Ozempic Look 46:11 TRT First Then Peptides 47:32 Telehealth Laws by State 50:24 Discount for the Community 50:44 TRT Stigma and Safety Data 54:36 How to Start with Blokes 58:40 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about relationships, emotional growth, healing, leadership, mental health, and becoming Harder Than Life. Harder Than Life: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysiegelhtl/ ⚫ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.siegel.71 ⚫ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/ ⚫ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71 ⚫ Website: https://www.trustntm.com 🔴 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697 🔴 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS 🔴 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcD Josh Whalen: ⚫ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whalen_joshua/ (https://www.instagram.com/whalen_joshua/?hl=en)⚫ Website: https://joiandblokes.com/ #HarderThanLife #JoshWhalen #Blokes #JoyWomensWellness #Longevity #MensHealth #WomensHealth #Testosterone #Peptides #HealthOptimization
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