Men’s Health: Built For Life

Men's Health UK

Men’s Health: Built For Life — with hosts Ben Shephard and Men’s Health Fitness Director Andrew Tracey — is the podcast for the men looking to take control of their fitness, health and life. Sharing practical science, actionable, real-world advice and incredible stories from inspiring guests – we can't promise you that listening to this podcast will change your life… but it will give you everything you need to go away and do that yourself.

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21 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes21

Newest first

Yesterday · 1 hr 17 min
Dr Mike Israetel: Why Most Men Are Getting Muscle Growth Completely Wrong
In this episode of the Men’s Health Built for Life podcast, Andrew Tracey sits down with exercise scientist, bodybuilder and one of the internet’s most recognisable fitness experts, Dr Mike Israetel, to cut through the noise surrounding training, nutrition and body composition. Dr Mike explains why most men spend far too much time searching for the perfect exercise, diet or scientific ‘hack’ – and not enough time consistently applying the fundamentals that actually drive results. They discuss genetics, progressive overload, training intensity, high-volume versus high-intensity workouts, the importance of tracking your lifts and why ‘optimal’ is irrelevant when you’re struggling to make it to the gym. They also break down what a realistic muscle-building diet looks like, why protein solves a surprising number of nutrition problems and how to stay on track when work, travel and real life inevitably disrupt your plans. Expect brutally honest advice, questionable analogies and a simple message that many of us still don’t want to hear: slow, consistent effort works – but you have to keep doing it. Dr Mike’s new book, The Aesthetic Revolution, is out now – a science-backed guide to building a leaner, more muscular body and embracing the fact that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. Men's Health UK: Built For Life Podcast Hosted by Fitness Director Andrew Tracey and Ben Shephard. Produced by Ruth Holroyd Trusted guidance for men passionate about their health, fitness and mental wellbeing. With muscle-building advice, style hacks, nutrition tips and workouts to try, we’ve got all areas covered. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Click here: https://bit.ly/4eQkqIH Men’s Health UK: https://www.menshealth.com/uk/ Men’s Health UK on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menshealthuk/ Men’s Health UK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/menshealthuk Men’s Health UK on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menshealthuk/ Men’s Health on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/menshealthuk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 30 · 50 min
Josh Fletcher: The Truth About Anxiety That Wellness Influencers Won’t Tell You
Anxiety has never been more talked about – but has it ever been more misunderstood? This week on the Men's Health Built for Life podcast, we sit down with psychotherapist and bestselling author Joshua Fletcher (better known to many as Anxiety Josh) to separate everyday worry from disordered anxiety, unpack why so many of us get trapped in cycles of panic, rumination and reassurance-seeking, and explore why the modern obsession with optimisation might actually be making our mental health worse. Josh explains why trying to 'fix' anxiety often reinforces it, why you are the coping technique—not your breathing exercise, ice bath or latest wellness hack—and how learning to tolerate discomfort is the key to rewiring your brain's threat response. We also dive into intrusive thoughts, OCD, health anxiety, the hidden ways anxiety shows up in men, and why shame – not weakness – is often what stops us asking for help. Whether you've struggled with anxiety yourself, know someone who has, or simply want to understand your own mind a little better, this is a practical, compassionate conversation about living well alongside uncertainty. Men's Health UK: Built For Life Podcast Hosted by Fitness Director Andrew Tracey and Ben Shephard. Produced by Ruth Holroyd Trusted guidance for men passionate about their health, fitness and mental wellbeing. With muscle-building advice, style hacks, nutrition tips and workouts to try, we’ve got all areas covered. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Click here: https://bit.ly/4eQkqIH Men’s Health UK: https://www.menshealth.com/uk/ Men’s Health UK on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menshealthuk/ Men’s Health UK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/menshealthuk Men’s Health UK on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menshealthuk/ Men’s Health on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/menshealthuk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 23 · 52 min
Kori Sampson: Why More Runners Need to Train Like Bodybuilders
Men’s Health Fitness Director Andrew Tracey sits down with coach, endurance athlete and content creator Kori Sampson to discuss the journey from bodybuilding and partying to sobriety, marathon running and 100-mile challenges. Kori explains how he balances high-volume endurance training with building and maintaining muscle, why protein still matters for runners, how he fuels long races and what most people get wrong when trying to lose fat while improving performance. The pair also discuss the pressure to appear ‘balanced’, why moderation simply doesn’t work for everyone, and how discipline can sometimes offer more freedom than constantly negotiating with yourself. Plus, Kori reveals the gym movements he keeps in year-round, why runners should train more like bodybuilders, and how his approach to training, food and recovery has evolved as the challenges have become bigger. Men's Health UK: Built For Life Podcast Hosted by Fitness Director Andrew Tracey and Ben Shephard. Produced by Ruth Holroyd Trusted guidance for men passionate about their health, fitness and mental wellbeing. With muscle-building advice, style hacks, nutrition tips and workouts to try, we’ve got all areas covered. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Click here: https://bit.ly/4eQkqIH Men’s Health UK: https://www.menshealth.com/uk/ Men’s Health UK on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menshealthuk/ Men’s Health UK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/menshealthuk Men’s Health UK on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menshealthuk/ Men’s Health on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/menshealthuk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 16 · 56 min
Oli Patrick: Why You’re Still Tired – Even When Your Health Data Says You’re Fine
In this episode of the Men’s Health Built for Life podcast, Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey are joined by physiologist and human-performance expert Oli Patrick to explore what really drives our energy – and why so many of us feel permanently exhausted. Oli explains why sleep trackers and health data can sometimes create more anxiety than clarity, why we’re too quick to chase supplements and biohacks before fixing the basics, and why energy may be a more useful measure of wellbeing than any single biomarker. The three discuss sleep, stress, nutrition, movement, recovery and the danger of ‘majoring in the minors’, before breaking down the foundational behaviours that can help us feel and perform better. Oli also reveals why you should go to bed with a ‘clean mental inbox’, why there is rarely one magic fix, and the simple lesson he would airdrop into everyone’s brain: be kind to yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 9 · 38 min
Paddy Pimblett On Losing, Coming Back And Fighting Under McGregor
Paddy Pimblett is back on the Men’s Health Built for Life podcast. After suffering the first real loss of his UFC career, Paddy sits down with Andrew Tracey to talk about coming back, growing up, fatherhood, fighting for something bigger than yourself, and why he knows he’ll return ‘bigger and better and stronger’. He also breaks down the brutal reality of UFC weight cutting, from 1,850-calorie fight camp days to losing 15lb overnight, why he believes the cut can be ‘more dangerous than the fight’, and what really happens between the weigh-in and walking into the cage. Plus, Paddy reveals the training he wishes he’d started years earlier, why lifting weights changed his career, the running mileage that helps him make weight, the problem with influencer boxing, why he thinks boxing is losing real fighters, and what it means to be fighting on the same card as Conor McGregor. And, yes, he explains why he’s absolutely not a HYROX guy. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 2 · 1 hr 5 min
How to Stop Starting Over With Your Fitness
Lawrence Price – former professional rugby player, coach, personal trainer and co-host of The Secret Life of Dads podcast – joins Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey on the Built For Life podcast. In this episode, Lawrence talks about the viral success of his Pints and Ponytails events, why dads across the world have connected with the idea, and how a simple hair-braiding session in a pub became part of a much bigger conversation around fatherhood, masculinity and showing up properly for your kids. He also breaks down how busy parents can build a genuinely sustainable fitness-led lifestyle – without turning training into a second job. From the three pillars of steps, strength training and nutrition, to why so many men fall into all-or-nothing training cycles, Laurence explains how to stay consistent when life, work and parenthood get messy. This is a conversation about fatherhood, fitness, mental health, modern masculinity, protein, patience, purpose and why training is about far more than just looking good with your top off. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 25 · 45 min
They Told Him He Was Too Old. Then He Won Paralympic Gold
Paralympic gold medallist, marathon world record holder and disability inclusion advocate Richard Whitehead MBE joins Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey on the Built For Life podcast. Born with a double through-knee congenital amputation, Richard has spent his life refusing to be limited by other people’s expectations. In this episode, he talks about being told he was ‘too old’ to make it as a sprinter, switching from marathon running to the 200m for London 2012, breaking a blade on the way to qualification, and the gold medal race that became one of the defining moments of the Paralympic Games. Richard also opens up on the marathon that changed his life, the worst blisters he’s ever had, the power of sport to break down barriers, why medals aren’t the real legacy, and how – at nearly 50 – he’s still getting faster and stronger. This is a conversation about resilience, inclusion, identity, purpose and why, in Richard’s words, we’re all ‘better together’. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 18 · 51 min
The Menopause Guide Men Didn’t Know They Needed
Most men think menopause is about hot flushes and periods stopping. Award-winning health writer and bestselling author Joe Warner thought much the same – until a health scare involving his partner forced him to learn more. In this episode of Built For Life, Joe explains why menopause isn’t just a women’s issue, how it can put huge strain on relationships, and why so many men are completely unprepared for what’s coming. We discuss communication, intimacy, midlife pressures, and the simple mistakes men make when they try to help. Joe’s new book, Burning Up, Frozen Out: What Every Man Needs To Know About Menopause (But No One Told You), is available now. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 11 · 38 min
Jet Li: 'Train Your Mind Like You Train Your Body'
Jet Li is one of the greatest martial arts stars of all time – a former wushu champion, global action icon and star of films including Lethal Weapon 4, Romeo Must Die and The Expendables. But in this conversation, he opens up about the fight that changed him most: the one with his own mind. Speaking to Men’s Health, Jet Li reflects on fame, fear, success, Buddhism, meditation and the near-death experience during the 2004 tsunami that transformed his view of life. He explains why chasing more – more money, more recognition, more success – can become its own prison, and why true freedom comes from looking beyond the identity we spend our lives trying to protect. This is a rare and deeply personal conversation with a martial arts legend on death, ego, training the mind, and what it really means to be healthy and happy. Jet Li's new book 'Beyond Life and Death: The Way to True Freedom' is available now Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 4 · 55 min
Inside Sport’s Doping Arms Race
In this episode of Men’s Health: Built For Life, Andrew Tracey and Ben Shephard are joined by sports science writer James Witts, author of Dope: How Drugs Change Sport, for a deep dive into the murky world of performance-enhancing drugs. From caffeine, creatine and tramadol to steroids, peptides, GLP-1 drugs, gene doping and the controversial Enhanced Games, James explains why the line between ‘clean’ and ‘cheating’ is far less clear than many of us think. We get into the history of doping, how athletes beat drug tests, why recovery may be the real performance advantage, the rise of enhancement culture in gyms and on TikTok, and whether the future of sport could be faster, stronger – and much more pharmaceutical. This is not just a conversation about elite athletes. It is a conversation about sport, health, risk, money, morality and how far we are willing to go in the pursuit of performance. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28 · 31 min
Why Looking Ripped Stopped Mattering to Colman Domingo
Fresh from his Men’s Health cover shoot, this week on Men’s Health: Built For Life, we sit down with Emmy-winning actor, director and playwright Colman Doming to talk confidence, ageing, movement and what it really means to take care of yourself. Colman opens up on the mindset shift that changed his relationship with fitness in his 50s – moving from chasing aesthetics to prioritising health, mobility, confidence and feeling good in his own skin. We get into intermittent fasting, losing 20lbs, reconnecting with movement, morning walks, building routines that actually last and why kindness, spirituality and time in nature matter just as much as training. Plus: why squats are his nemesis, the one movement he’d keep forever, the actor he’d most want to train with, and the simple daily habits helping him feel strong at 56. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21 · 38 min
Eddie Hearn: ‘I Feel Better Now Than I Did In My 30s’
Eddie Hearn is back on Men’s Health: Built For Life – and this time, he’s talking about the training, nutrition and mindset shifts helping him feel better in his 40s than he did in his 30s. Speaking to Men’s Health Fitness Director Andrew Tracey, the boxing promoter opens up on why movement has become a daily non-negotiable, how he’s learned to train smarter rather than simply smash himself in the gym, and why fuelling properly – yes, including carbs – has transformed the quality of his sessions. Hearn also discusses ageing, fatherhood, weight, self-criticism, the long-term investment of fitness, his father Barry’s health journey, why road work still matters for fighters, life after boxing, and whether Dana White has ‘lost his mojo’. For Eddie, the goal is simple: keep moving, keep chipping away, and arrive at 50 looking and feeling better than ever. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit https://www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14 · 41 min
How Richard Gadd Gained 40kg For Half Man
On this episode of the Built For Life podcast, Richard Gadd joins Andrew Tracey to break down the reality behind his extreme body transformation for Half Man. After dropping to 68kg for Baby Reindeer, Gadd pushed his body to over 100kg, training six days a week, eating relentlessly and even dehydrating himself for scenes. But despite the scale of the change, he admits he ‘never felt as big as I wanted to be.’ They unpack the psychology of bulking, why progress is so hard to see even when it’s obvious to everyone else, and how quickly training can become addictive. The conversation also digs into the pressure of physique transformations and the link between exercise and mental health. Alongside the physical side, Gadd talks about masculinity, identity and the thinking behind his new show Half Man – and why the most interesting stories are the ones that don’t give you a clean answer. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7 · 51 min
The Ex-Marine Who Walked 12,000 Miles To Save His Life
This week on the Built For Life podcast Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey are joined by Paul 'The Warrior Walker' Harris, who explains how something as simple as walking became the foundation for rebuilding his life. After a mental health crisis left him lost and struggling, the former Royal Marine set out to walk the UK coastline with no plan and just £300. He didn’t just finish it – he did it twice, covering over 20,000km. A powerful conversation on mental health, resilience, and why more of us need to get out and walk. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 30 · 1 hr 15 min
Why The Fat Comes Back After Weight-Loss Jabs
On this week's Men’s Health: Built For Life podcast Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey sit down on the with GP, broadcaster and author Dr Jack Mosley to unpack two of the most talked-about ideas in modern nutrition: ‘food noise’ and fat-loss jabs. Why do some people constantly think about food, while others barely give it a second thought? Is it really a willpower issue – or something deeper? They dive into the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Tirzepatide, how they act like ‘noise-cancelling headphones’ for your appetite, and why for many people, the noise comes roaring back once they stop. The conversation explores the real benefits, the hidden downsides – including muscle loss and nutrient deficiencies – and what happens when you rely on appetite suppression without fixing the fundamentals. They also get into the ‘wild west’ of online pharmacies and black-market peptides, the surprising impact these drugs can have on alcohol and addictive behaviours, and why strength training might be the most overlooked piece of the puzzle. This is a nuanced, no-nonsense look at one of the biggest shifts in health and fat loss right now – separating hype from reality, and giving you practical takeaways you can actually use. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 23 · 59 min
How Ben Shephard is Training For The Marathon at 51
Your Men's Health: Built For Life Hosts – Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey – sit down to unpack Ben’s road back to the marathon at 51 – after being told post–back surgery he’d never go the distance again. They dig into the reality of ‘minimum effective dose’ training, how to rebuild around injury, and what actually moves the needle when time (and your body) isn’t on your side. AT also breaks down his latest experiment: taking on the brutal 81km TransGranCanaria mountain ultra on just one run per week. What worked, what didn’t, and how a simple timekeeping error left him stranded at the top of a mountain, watching the race slip away. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 14 · 40 min
James Norton on Marathon Training with Type 1 Diabetes
Actor James Norton joins Men’s Health and Runner’s World for a special crossover episode. Ahead of his first London Marathon, Norton breaks down what training actually looks like when you’re not a “natural runner” - and what changes when you’re managing Type 1 diabetes. From carb strategy and glucose monitoring to injuries, data overload and mental fatigue, this is a candid look at the reality of preparing for 42.2km. We also get into cold exposure, mindset, and why, for this race, finishing matters more than hitting a time. Plus, Norton explains how new diabetes tech is transforming endurance sport and why he’s running for a cause bigger than himself. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 8 · 1 hr 12 min
He Ran a Marathon From the Top of a Volcano
Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey are joined by former Royal Marines Commando and expedition leader Aldo Kane to break down what ‘mental toughness’ actually means – and why most people have it completely wrong. From operating in war zones to leading teams into the world’s most hostile environments, Aldo explains why toughness isn’t about ice baths or suffering for the sake of it, but the ability to keep going when things get uncomfortable – physically, mentally and emotionally. Along the way, we dig into the realities of extreme performance – including running a marathon from the summit of the world’s highest volcano – why gratitude might be the most powerful mental tool you’re not using, and the simple fitness standard every man should aim for: not being a burden. This is a masterclass in resilience, stripped of ego. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 2 · 1 hr 4 min
Military Cross Recipient on Masculinity, Vulnerability and Real Toughness
Former British Army soldier and Military Cross recipient Brian Wood joins Ben Shephard and Andrew Tracey to talk about masculinity, vulnerability and what real toughness actually looks like – starting with the war crimes allegations that turned his life upside down. After being accused of serious offences following his actions in Iraq – claims he always denied and was ultimately cleared of – Brian opens up about the toll of years under investigation, the impact on his mental health, and the reality of fighting a very different kind of battle back home. Drawing on his experiences in combat – and the aftermath that followed – Brian explains why strength isn’t about shutting down, but opening up. We discuss trauma, the pressure men put on themselves to ‘hold it together’, and why learning to talk might be one of the hardest – and most important – skills a man can develop. We also get into leadership under fire, the role of movement and endurance in rebuilding resilience, and why ‘movement is medicine’ has become a cornerstone of Brian’s life beyond the military. If you’ve ever questioned what it really means to be strong, this one will stay with you. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 26 · 1 hr 12 min
PB Your 5K By Fixing Your Breathing
Breathing coach David ‘Jacko’ Jackson joins Andrew Tracey and Ben Shephard to explain why most of us are breathing wrong – and how fixing it could transform your running, recovery and overall performance. From cutting down your 5K time to reducing stress and improving sleep, Jacko breaks down the simple changes that can make hard efforts feel easier. We dive into breathing rate, CO₂ tolerance, nasal breathing, and why ‘just get fitter’ might be missing the point. If you want to run better, recover faster and feel more in control under pressure, this one’s worth your time. Breathe Smarter, Run Stronger: Breathwork to Transform Your Running is available on Amazon now Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices