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Help Me Understand

by JK McLeod

Help Me Understand is a podcast that explores the context behind the things that we experience from day to day. With topics ranging from personal development, to parenting, to health and fitness, and more; join JK McLeod as he shares his thoughts and hosts conversations that are meant to encourage you to say "Help me understand" in an effort to add perspective to the things we experience in everyday life.

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Episodes

  1. 301. Problems reveal possibilities

    JK shares a perspective to help you reframe problems and obstacles. ------ Subscribe to the email list: https://join.jkmcleod.com/emails Connect with JK: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

  2. Make Fitness Make Sense, Episode 2: The Cortisol Panic Is Getting Out of Hand

    Cortisol gets blamed for everything right now: belly fat, poor sleep, stress, fatigue, hormone issues, and even people’s workouts. But is cortisol really the villain, or has the internet turned a normal human hormone into another thing to fear? In this episode, Coach JK shares his perspective on...

  3. 300. Virtue signaling, Juneteenth, the cost of convenience

    JK discusses the significance of Juneteenth, his perspective on virtue signaling, and an observation on the cost of convenience. ------- Connect with JK: Instagram: ⁠⁠@coachjkmcleod⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ New episodes of Make Fitness Make Sense release every Tuesday. Subscribe to the new…

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  4. Make Fitness Make Sense, Episode 1 - Collagen, Recovery After 30, and Letting Go of Fitness Guilt

    Welcome to episode 1 of Make Fitness Make Sense with Coach JK McLeod. This podcast is for people who want fitness, nutrition, and healthy habits explained in a way that actually makes sense. In this episode, JK answers three common fitness questions: Is collagen protein worth taking? Why does...

  5. 299. Caleb Williams paints his nails, Uber’s Women Preferences, and why context gets lost online

    In episode 299, JK gives listeners a preview of where the podcast is headed as it returns to its original roots: Everyday topics, personal perspective, and conversations that move beyond fitness. This episode covers the online conversation surrounding Caleb Williams appearing on the cover of…

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  6. 298. Full-body workouts, body recomp frustration, and using AI for fitness (Q&A)

    In this Tuesday fitness-focused episode, Coach JK takes five fitness questions and topics from Threads and gives the longer answer behind the quick comment section response. Topics include: Bro split vs. full-body training...what results can I expect? Body recomposition happening, but the scale...

  7. 297. Calories in calories out, logging Smith machine weights, choosing home equipment, & asking better questions (Fitness Q+A)

    In this Tuesday Fitness Focus Q&A, Coach JK works through a few fitness questions that seem simple at first, but need more context to answer well. Topics include: How should you log weight on the Smith machine? What cardio machine makes the most sense for a home gym? Why some fat-loss questions...

  8. 296. How to be consistent when life feels chaotic

    Some seasons make it really difficult to feel like you are following any kind of plan. Work gets busier. School calendars get chaotic. Family responsibilities shift. And by the end of the day, it can feel like your health habits never really had a chance. In this episode, Coach JK shares a simple...

  9. 295. How science-based fitness claims try to fool you.

    In this episode, Coach JK shares his perspective on the difference between correlation and causation, and why that distinction matters for simplifying fitness. Using aging, weight gain, strength loss, injury, menopause, and fitness marketing as examples, JK talks through how easy it is for…

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  10. 294. Shame-based fitness content, Barre for strength, and isolating muscle groups (Q&A)

    Is barre enough for strength training? Do weighted vests make everything better? Why do some fitness accounts seem to rely on shame to get your attention? And when a machine says it targets one muscle, is that really the only muscle working? In this Q&A episode, Coach JK takes a few fitness...

  11. 293. 3 types of people who make or break your fitness habits

    In today's episode, you'll discover how different types of relationships influence your ability to build and maintain your foundational fitness habits (eat well, sleep enough, exercise regularly). Coach JK shares his perspective on the three key roles people play in your life and how to leverage…

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  12. 292. 4 good things (weekly good news & gratitude)

    Coach JK shares 4 good things from this week. Some shared by others, some noticed along the way, all worth paying attention to. This weekly segment is a quick way to shift perspective and stack some wins. To (confidentially) submit yours, send a DM on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@coachJKmcleod⁠⁠⁠ or email...

  13. 291. Bread, calories, and weight gain… something isn’t adding up

    A new headline claims bread can cause weight gain, even without eating more calories. In this episode, Coach JK shares his perspective on the study behind the claim, and how quickly research like this turns into conflicting advice. Article:...

  14. 290. Late workouts wrecking sleep, group exercise coaching, logging weights, & increasing protein (Q+A)

    Q&A episode covering a range of real-world fitness questions, including: - What to do if late-night workouts are wrecking your sleep - The tradeoff between coaching and participation in group fitness classes - Whether or not to count the bar when tracking your lifts - The right way to log…

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  15. 289. 4 good things (weekly good news & gratitude)

    Coach JK shares 4 good things from this week. Some shared by others, some noticed along the way, all worth paying attention to. This weekly segment is a quick way to shift perspective and stack some wins. To (confidentially) submit yours, send a DM on Instagram ⁠⁠@coachJKmcleod⁠⁠ or email...

  16. 288. Stuck between getting jacked and staying athletic?

    Trying to build muscle and stay athletic at the same time? This episode tackles that messy middle, where most people end up spinning their wheels. Coach JK breaks down how to approach both goals without burning out your progress, including how to structure your training, fuel it properly, and…

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  17. 287. 6 good things (weekly good news & gratitude)

    Coach JK shares 6 good things from this week. Some shared by others, some noticed along the way, all worth paying attention to. This weekly segment is a quick way to shift perspective and stack some wins. To (confidentially) submit yours, send a DM on Instagram ⁠@coachJKmcleod⁠ or email...

  18. 286. Are under-the-desk pedal machines an exercise hack?

    You’ve probably seen those under-the-desk pedal things… maybe you even have one. But are they actually helping, or just making you feel like you’re doing something? This episode brings some clarity to where they fit, how to use them, and what not to expect from them. --------- Instagram:...

  19. 285. 8 good things (weekly good news & gratitude)

    Coach JK shares 8 wins from this week. Some shared by others, some noticed along the way, all worth paying attention to. This weekly segment is a quick way to shift perspective and stack some wins. To (confidentially) submit yours, send a DM on Instagram @coachJKmcleod or email [email protected]

  20. 284. Are you using rest days effectively?

    Rest days get talked about a lot… but rarely in a way that actually makes them easier to understand or use. In this episode, Coach JK offers a different way to think about them...one that shifts the focus away from “time off” and toward something that can directly impact how you show up in your...

  21. 283. 7 good things (weekly dose of good news)

    Coach JK shares 7 good things that happened to people this week. This is aweekly segment to share listener/follower-submitted good news. To (confidentially) submit your good news for a future episode, contact JK via Instagram ⁠⁠@coachJKmcleod⁠⁠ or email [email protected]

  22. 282. Is macro coaching a scam?

    In this episode, Coach JK shares his opinions on macro coaching, and the difference between using macros as a tool and relying on them as the entire strategy. He also shares an inside look at one-time macro prescriptions, and how they're used...which is for a different reasont than you might…

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  23. 281. 3 good things (weekly dose of good news)

    Coach JK shares 3 good things that happened to people this week. This is a new, weekly segment to share listener/follower-submitted good news. To (confidentially) submit your good news for a future episode, contact JK via Instagram ⁠@coachJKmcleod⁠ or email [email protected]

  24. 280. Morning workouts, getting back in the gym, and adjusting your plan (Q&A)

    In this episode, Coach JK answers two fitness questions and then shares a perspective on building a plan. The first question: How do people actually transition into becoming a “morning workout person”? The second: If someone is getting back into the gym after a long hiatus, what’s the best way to...

  25. 279. 9 good things (weekly dose of good news)

    Coach JK shares 9 good things that happened to people this week. This is a new, weekly segment to share listener/follower-submitted good news. To (confidentially) submit your good news for a future episode, contact JK via Instagram @coachJKmcleod or email [email protected]

  26. 278. 2-hour workouts, quitting your fitness journey, bodybuilding protocols for lifestyle clients (Q&A)

    This week’s episode is a Q&A-style deep dive into common fitness questions that deserve more than a quick comment-section answer. Coach JK takes real questions pulled from social media and everyday coaching conversations and unpacks the nuance behind them. Topics include:• Is a two-hour workout...

  27. 277. Cutting caffeine, fasted lifting, trying CrossFit, and judgemental personal trainers

    In this Q&A-style episode, Coach JK takes four real posts from Threads and expands on the short comment-section answers that rarely leave room for meaningful context. Topics include: - Caffeine and sleep (and what might actually be keeping you up), - How to think through trying a CrossFit gym...

  28. 276. The work behind the workout

    Most people think their results should match the hours they spend in the gym. In this episode, Coach JK introduces different a way to look at your effort: a ratio between time spent working out and time spent supporting that work. The gym is only part of the equation. The systems behind it are…

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  29. 275. Breaking Strength Plateaus Without Overthinking Your Training

    If you’ve been lifting consistently but your numbers haven’t changed in weeks, this episode will clear up why. Coach JK breaks down when to increase the weight you’re lifting and how to do it without overcomplicating your training. You’ll learn a simple progression model you can use for the long...

  30. 274. Flexibility isn't the starting point

    In this episode, Coach JK breaks down an internal struggle most people feel but rarely name: wanting more flexibility while resisting the structure that actually creates it. Using exercise as the main lens, JK explains why true flexibility isn’t about doing everything whenever you feel like...

  31. 273. Finding the middle after fitness extremes (w/Deanna Harder)

    Coach JK is joined by Deanna Harder, a personal trainer and fitness coach based in Canada, for a conversation about what happens after you’ve taken fitness to the extreme. Deanna has lived on that end of the spectrum, from intense training and rigid food rules to bodybuilding prep, and she’s…

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  32. 272. Put It on Hold: How to Stay Consistent in an Overloaded World

    In this episode, Coach JK talks about why constant exposure to fitness advice, podcasts, and “better” methods is making consistency harder, not easier. He introduces a simple framework to help you put new information on H.O.L.D. instead of immediately reacting to it, so you can stay focused on…

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  33. 271. You don't have choices. You have options.

    In this episode, coach JK shares his POV on the difference between making a choice and deciding what your options are. The episode centers on the idea that commitment happens once, up front. After that, the work isn’t about renegotiating the decision, but about giving yourself multiple ways to...

  34. 270. Losing workout motivation in your 40s, starting point for buying dumbbells (Fitness Q&A)

    In today's fitness Q&A episode, coach JK covers what to do when you lose the motivation to workout in your 40s. He also offers suggestions for someone who is looking to buy dumbbells for workouts at home. ----- Instagram: @coachJKmcleod Email: [email protected]

  35. 269. Struggling after #75Hard, Best macros tracker, Cutting carbs, and more (Fitness Qs)

    In this episode, coach JK answers your fitness & nutrition questions. - What's the best app to use for macros tracking? - I'm struggling to find consistency when I'm not on #75Hard - How many days per week do I need to workout to lose weight? - Should I cut carbs to jumpstart my weight loss?…

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  36. 268. Why identity makes habits stick

    In this episode , Coach JK McLeod shares why lasting habit change starts with identity. The focus is on three ideas: - consistency is about patterns, not perfection - a clear sense of identity makes daily decisions easier - outcome goals only work when they fit into a lifestyle you can actually...

  37. 267. The 'messy middle' of goal setting

    In this episode of the Help Me Understand podcast, Coach JK explores the concept of the "messy middle", a space where individuals find themselves without a specific goal but still feel the urge to pursue something meaningful. JK shares his perspective on how to navigate this space by examining...

  38. 266. The secret sauce for consistency

    In today's episode, JK shares his perspective on what the "secret sauce" is for locking in and being consistent with fitness. He also shares how a recent book read (The Gap & The Gain) provided a different way to look at finding harmony with how far you've come and the drive to keep going towards...

  39. 265. Start today.

    In this episode, Coach JK reflects on, what it took to reach 265 podcast episodes, and why consistency matters more than confidence, clarity, or perfect conditions. If you’ve been waiting for the right time, the right plan, or the right setup to begin something important, this episode is for you....

  40. 264. An encore year: Planning what comes next (with Melissa)

    Coach JK McLeod closes out the year with Melissa’s annual return to the podcast, using her one-word theme and “__ for __” (ie "25 in 2025") list as a way to reflect, reset, and move forward without the usual New Year pressure. Melissa's perspective on 2025 pushes back on the idea that a new year...

  41. 263. Are your barriers actually real?

    In this episode of Help Me Understand, Coach JK McLeod examines how self-imposed limitations often come from old stories that were never revisited or questioned. Through everyday examples, he shows how assumptions about what’s “allowed,” “professional,” or “realistic” can restrict our habits…

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  42. 262. How your habits drift off course

    In this episode, Coach JK explores how small, everyday decisions shape long-term fitness and health outcomes. Listen in for JK's perspective on how focusing on the micro choices around eating, sleep, and exercise will slowly determine whether routines stay on course or drift to a different...

  43. 261. Making sense of sleep debt

    In this episode, JK talks about sleep debt in a way that actually makes sense for real life and real training. What starts as a simple client conversation about “off” sleep turns into a clear look at how small, repeated gaps in rest add up to quietly undercut your energy, decision-making, and...

  44. 260. Scamming season, body positivity, and gratitude.

    In this off-the-dome episode, Coach JK hits three topics. First, he talks about “scamming season” in retail and what listeners can do to help protect the people they love from gift card and romance scams. Then he breaks down why the take “body positivity = avoiding accountability” completely…

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  45. 259. Tips for shifting to morning workouts

    This episode of Help Me Understand answers a familiar problem: “My evenings aren’t predictable anymore. How do I make morning workouts actually stick?” JK breaks down how to remove early-morning friction, avoid the snooze-and-scroll loop, lower the startup cost of training, and use simple cues to...

  46. 258. Zone 2 (the uncomplicated version)

    On today's episode, JK explains why zone 2 is best understood through how it feels, how long you can sustain it, and what it does for your heart and overall capacity. You’ll hear why many people slip into that “almost hard” middle zone that doesn’t build a real cardiovascular base, and how…

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  47. 257. After the health & fitness 'wake up' call

    As you’re taking action, and motivated..ask: Why will I continue to do this even when I don’t feel like it? What can I put in place to be a healthy reward for continue to workout?...because if the initial thing that got me moving was a negative report from the doctor…how will I keep going once…

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  48. 256. One habit is enough...for now

    Trying to change everything at once is why most people never stick to anything. In this episode, Coach JK shares why he focuses on building one foundational fitness habit at a time, and how it leads to building the complete system you need to make real progress that lasts. -------- Instagram:...

  49. 255. Why diets fail

    Coach JK shares his take on the commonly shared statistic: “85% of diets fail” ...and what that stat actually means. He covers four main drivers behind weight regain and explains what to focus on instead for results that last. Referenced research includes work from Mann (2007), Fothergill (2016),...

  50. 254. What's really behind "travel weight" gain

    In this episode, Coach JK takes a closer look at the belief that traveling automatically leads to weight gain. Drawing from client experiences and real-world examples, he breaks down what’s actually going on when the scale jumps after a trip. The conversation explores how travel changes energy...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Help Me Understand is a podcast that explores the context behind the things that we experience from day to day. With topics ranging from personal development, to parenting, to health and fitness, and more; join JK McLeod as he shares his thoughts and hosts conversations that are meant to encourage you to say "Help me understand" in an effort to add perspective to the things we experience in everyday life.

HOSTED BY

JK McLeod

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Help Me Understand have?

Help Me Understand currently has 303 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Help Me Understand about?

Help Me Understand is a podcast that explores the context behind the things that we experience from day to day. With topics ranging from personal development, to parenting, to health and fitness, and more; join JK McLeod as he shares his thoughts and hosts conversations that are meant to encourage...

How often does Help Me Understand release new episodes?

Help Me Understand publishes regularly with 303 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Help Me Understand?

You can listen to Help Me Understand on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Help Me Understand?

Help Me Understand is created and hosted by JK McLeod.
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