In the big and scary world of Modern Fitness, there are beacons of reliable and effective information. Jeff Handler is one of those lights in the darkness.
Mentors and role models are hard to find anywhere, let alone in a gym... and yet, I was struck from the beginning by the force of one man's presence and its subtle, profound impact on the people around him.
The idea of intersation and the inspiration behind "Who's to Say" revolve around input from the best minds and souls in my world. Jeff Handler has been a role model for me since I was a teenager, and well before that, he was already changing lives... By blending the interview with a friendly conversation, we were able to go deep into the mechanisms of his training world, his experiences leading teams, clients, and family, and his wisdom from self-exploration that he freely shares.
I wanted to sit down with Jeff to get a feel for his approach to helping people take control of their health, and to learn what future he sees for himself and his community. Among many great stories and insights, we discussed:
2:00 Jeff’s Idol, Derek Jeter
4:20 Leadership & player-led teams
8:30 Jeff’s relationship with baseball, Ozzie Smith
16:10 Start before you’re ready
23:00 Phases of preparation and buy-in: it’s a custom process; bites of success and smart calorie burning; why Jeff isn’t a fan of cardio
34:14 Training men vs. women; communicating to groups vs. individuals
48:00 The benefits of being a generalist - esp. on Cape Cod; being able to go deep!
55:50 It is the consumer’s responsibility to ask questions
01:04:00 Mentorship & relationships
01:16:07 How Jeff develops skills and body awareness in the gym
01:28:00 National Physical Education Program
01:33:45 Challenges and opportunities in parenting these days; shortage of average athletes
1:43:10 Jeff’s take on marriage: choosing over finding your spouse
01:58:57 Moments of doubt (or pure ignorance); being out of our depths; the cost to NOT making a decision
02:09:05 "Do more..." or "Do less..." - which advice is more effective?