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The Chad Franco Podcast

Chad Franco

Helping you understand how to meet yourself where you’re at and simplify your health and wellness journey.

My goal with this podcast is to help simplify all of the conflicting and confusing information circulating the internet today.

I’ve been on my own fitness and wellness journey since 1989 and am extremely passionate about helping others become their best selves through health and well-being.

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  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 34 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S1 · E136
    Wednesday · 26 min

    Episode 136: Nutrition: The System Most High Performers Are Missing

    This episode breaks down Pillar One of the Vitality Nation framework — the hormonal consequences of chronic restriction, the science of protein requirements after 35, food as biological information, chrono-nutrition and meal timing research, Tim's client story, the five most common nutritional mistakes among high performers, and the four-step nutrition framework that works when willpower does not.

  • S1 · E133
    July 28 · 1 hr 29 min

    Episode 135: Why Your Home Is Making You Sick w/Brian Johnson

    Today, I’m joined by Brian Johnson — Founder & CEO, SENERGY360 ("Healthy Build & Design") Today we are going to find out why your home is making you sick. Most homes are built to code, not to keep you healthy — and the gap between those two things is affecting how people sleep, breathe, think, and age. In this episode, we dive deep into what actually makes a home healthy. Happy listening! You can find Brian's work here - Instagram Senergy360 website by clicking here

  • S1 · E134
    July 14 · 53 min

    Episode 134: Where the standard health markers fall short with Nick Tognietti

    Why "normal" bloodwork doesn't mean you're healthy — and what the labs are actually missing. Join me with Nick Tognietti, The Founder Of Lifestyle of Eden and the 7 Pillars of disease reversal, prevention, and longevity. Most standard lab panels are built to catch disease, not to define what optimal health looks like. In this episode, we sit down with a leading functional health coach to break down the gap between "normal" and "optimal" — and why the number of Americans who are truly metabolically healthy is likely far lower than the headline statistics suggest. Why "normal" ≠ healthy — the difference between disease-detection thresholds and true optimal ranges Blood sugar isn't the full story — why fasting glucose alone can hide insulin resistance Fasting insulin — the test almost no one gets, and why it's one of the earliest warning signs of metabolic dysfunction HOMA-IR — a simple calculation that can reveal insulin resistance even when glucose and insulin look "fine" individually Triglycerides and the TG:HDL ratio — an underused but powerful predictor of metabolic and cardiovascular risk The cholesterol myth — why two people with identical LDL can have very different actual risk, and where ApoB fits in The markers standard panels skip entirely — hs-CRP (inflammation), uric acid, and vitamin D Hormones beyond TSH — why thyroid, sex hormone, and cortisol testing is often incomplete The real number — what percentage of Americans are actually metabolically healthy once you apply a true functional standard "The system isn't measuring health — it's measuring the absence of a diagnosis." Vitality Score assessment - Get yours by clicking here Nick Tognietti - Contact Nick by clicking here

  • S1 · E133
    July 7 · 30 min

    Episode 133: Daily Behaviors: The Twenty-Three Hours Nobody Is Talking About

    In this episode, I break down Pillar Eight of the Vitality Nation framework — Daily Behaviors — covering the active couch potato effect, the step count research, the biology of morning sunlight exposure and circadian entrainment, workout consistency as the primary training variable, the story of my client, Sarah, whose plateau was solved not by more training but by changing her daily behavioral environment, outdoor time and nature exposure research, and a four-block daily behavior blueprint. Resources Mentioned: Take your free Vitality Score → Click here Book a Clarity Call → Book here Key Research Referenced: Active couch potato effect (Biswas et al., 2015 — Annals of Internal Medicine) Prolonged sitting and all-cause mortality (independent of exercise) Step count and cardiovascular mortality dose-response research Circadian photoreception — suprachiasmatic nucleus and cortisol awakening response Attention restoration theory and natural environment exposure (Kaplan, 1995) Meta-analyses on green space and cortisol/blood pressure/sleep outcomes Resistance training frequency research (2-3x/week vs higher frequency)

  • S1 · E132
    June 30 · 32 min

    Episode 132: Recovery and Sleep: The Most Overlooked Performance Lever You Have

    In this episode, I dive into Recovery and Sleep — covering the biology of sleep (testosterone, HGH, HRV, cortisol), my own story of unlearning sleep deprivation as a badge of honor, the five thieves of sleep quality, a four-step recovery protocol, and why the stakes of chronic under-recovery get significantly higher after 35. Leaving you with three actionable steps to implement today. Resources Mentioned: Take your free Vitality Score → click here Book a Clarity Call → click here Key Research Referenced: Testosterone reduction from sleep deprivation (Leproult & Van Cauter, 2011 — JAMA) HGH and slow-wave sleep architecture research HRV as autonomic nervous system recovery marker Alcohol and REM sleep suppression research Blue light and melatonin suppression (Harvard Medical School / circadian biology literature)

  • S1 · E131
    June 23 · 28 min

    Episode 131: Your Environment Is Either Building You or Breaking You

    In this episode, I break down Pillar Nine of the Vitality Nation framework — Environment — covering indoor air quality, mold, toxic load from cleaning products and cookware, the biological impact of your social environment, and how your information diet is affecting your cortisol and nervous system. Resources Mentioned: Take your free Vitality Score → by clicking here Book a Clarity Call → by clicking here Key Research Referenced: EPA indoor air quality data (2–5x more polluted than outdoor air) Mycotoxin research in functional medicine literature PFAS / forever chemicals research (thyroid disease, immune dysfunction) Social isolation health risk equivalency (15 cigarettes/day) Blue light / melatonin suppression research Timestamps: 0:00 — Cold Open 2:00 — Intro 3:30 — Environment as a Health Pillar 8:30 — Your Home Environment (Air Quality, Mold, Light) 15:30 — Toxins in the Home (Cleaning Products, Plastics, Cookware, EMF) 22:30 — Your Social Environment 28:30 — Your Information Environment 33:30 — The Environment Audit (6 Questions) 38:30 — Close + Call to Action Connect with Chad: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachcfranco Website: https://vitalitynation.org/

  • S1 · E130
    June 16 · 24 min

    Episode 130: Physical Capacity — The Metric That Determines Your Independence

    In this episode, I break down why physical capacity — not weight, not body fat percentage — is the metric that actually determines quality of life and independence as we age. I explain how muscle and strength are lost gradually starting around age 35, why this is one of the strongest predictors of independence in older adults, and introduce the Vitality Physical Assessment — five tests, scored out of 20 points, adjusted for age and gender, placing you into one of four categories: Limited, Functional, Strong, or Elite. Comment "CAPACITY" on this episode, or, any Vitality Nation Instagram post for free access to the Vitality Physical Assessment. Happy Listening!

  • S1 · E129
    June 9 · 17 min

    Episode 129: The Biggest Lie in Healthcare — You Think You're Healthy

    71% of Americans think they're in good health. Only 12% are metabolically healthy. In this episode, Chad breaks down where Americans get their definition of "healthy," why that definition is failing them, and what a real vitality assessment actually looks like. Happy Listening! Get your FREE Vitality Score by clicking here.

  • S1 · E128
    June 2 · 27 min

    Episode 128: The Vitality Score — The New Gold Standard for Human Health Metrics

    Building on the previous episode — "The 5 Metrics Most People Trust" — Chad introduces the Vitality Score as a complete, integrated health measurement framework. He breaks down all ten pillars in depth, explains how each one affects the others, and walks through exactly how to build a measurable, personalized action plan from your score that produces long-term results. This is a companion episode. Listen to "The 5 Metrics Most People Trust — And Why They Are Not Enough" first. Resources Mentioned: Take your free Vitality Score → Click here Book a Clarity Call → Click here Join Vitality Nation → Click here

  • S2 · E127
    May 26 · 24 min

    Episode 127: The 5 Metrics Most People Trust - And Why They Are Not Enough

    I want to be clear upfront — this is not a takedown episode. I am not here to tell you that everything you have been doing is wrong. I am here to tell you that the tools most people rely on were built for a specific purpose — and that purpose was never to help you build vitality. It was to help you avoid dying from something diagnosable. That is a very different target. There is a concept I come back to constantly inside Vitality Nation, and it is this: true human vitality does not come from one metric. It comes from a system of metrics — all working in unison. And when I look at the way most people manage their health — the way most of us were taught to manage our health, and I’m one of you — we have been handed a handful of individual tools and told that is enough. It is not enough. And by the end of this episode you are going to understand exactly why — and more importantly, you are going to know what the alternative actually looks like. Let's walk through the five. Get your FREE Vitality Score by clicking here Get more info on Vitality Nation by clicking here

  • S1 · E125
    May 12 · 1 hr

    Episode #126: The Journey Behind The Results w/Penny Campriello

    Many people look at this picture and say; "I wish I had her motivation to look like that." It's easy to make our own assumptions and/or create our own narrative based on our experiences and lens when it comes to some elses results. Here's the truth, Penny's journey has had highs and lows, wins and losses, and uphill struggles for more than 15+ years now. The result you see today, isn't from motivation. It's from commitment, intention, consistent effort, and choosing to never give up on herself. We dive deep into Penny's story to reveal the real, raw, road blocks that come with achieving the results you see today. Happy listening!

  • S1 · E125
    March 31 · 28 min

    Episode 125: The 5 Most Overlooked Fat Loss Tools

    Most people think they’re missing something. The right diet. The perfect workout. More motivation. But what if the truth is… You’re not missing anything. You’re already surrounded by tools that could completely change your body— You’re just not using them intentionally. Today, I’m breaking down 5 things modern life already gives you… That, if you actually leveraged them, would make fat loss almost inevitable. Happy listening!

  • S1 · E124
    March 24 · 31 min

    Episode 124: How to Know When Your Nervous System Needs a Reset

    You’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You’re overstimulated. And most people don’t realize this—but that feeling of being tired all the time, yet unable to relax… that’s not a discipline problem. That’s your nervous system being completely overloaded. You’re pushing, grinding, go-go-go all day…And then wondering why you crash, why you feel anxious, why your body isn’t responding the way it used to. So today, I’m going to teach you how to actually read your body…And know exactly when your system needs to reset. Because your body isn’t broken. It’s communicating. And it's time you learn how to listen to it.

  • S1 · E122
    March 10 · 31 min

    Episode 122: Understanding Inflammation

    Inflammation is rarely caused by one thing. It’s the accumulation of lifestyle stressors that quietly tax the system. In this episode, I dive into 5 major drivers of chronic inflammation that many people don’t realize are quietly working against their health, energy, and body composition. Happy listening!

  • S121 · E1
    March 3 · 41 min

    Episode 121: The Hierarchy Of The Human Body w/Brandi Bradley

    Understanding the hierarchy of your own body is a VERY useful thing to learn. My friend, and fellow coach in the industry, Brandi Bradley - Functional Nutritionist and Hormone Expert, take a dive into the pathways, and the hierarchy of our body. Happy listening!

  • S1 · E116
    February 3 · 37 min

    Episode 119: You're Measuring The Wrong Thing: Why Consistency Is the Real Metric of Success

    Most people quit not because the plan didn’t work—but because they measured the wrong thing. If the scale stalls… if your lifts plateau… if your pace doesn’t improve—you assume you’re failing. But what if those metrics were never meant to be the scorecard? We’ve been conditioned to chase outcomes instead of behaviors. Outcomes fluctuate. Behaviors compound. The single most predictive factor in long-term health and fitness success isn’t weight lost, PRs, or speed. It’s how consistently you show up—especially when nothing exciting is happening.

  • S1 · E117
    January 20 · 33 min

    Episode 117: The Morning Mistake That’s Quietly Breaking Your Biology

    Are your mornings by design, or, are you reacting to them the second your alarm goes off? Are you moving your body before you sit? Are you focused on your phone screen before you get natural sunlight? All critical questions to ask yourself if you're seeking vitality. Let's dive in!

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