Muscles by Brussels Radio
by Dani Taylor
The ultimate podcast for vegan fitness enthusiasts! Hosted by vegan coaches of over 15 years, Dani Taylor and Giacomo Marchese, this show dives deep into the world of vegan bodybuilding, strength training, and nutrition. With expert advice, science-based insights, and real-life experiences, the Vegan Proteins Team helps you navigate your fitness journey while debunking myths and providing actionable tips. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out, Muscle by Brussels Radio is your go-to resource for achieving your best vegan physique. Tune in and transform your body and mind!
Episodes
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Episode 282: Can Radical Delusion Help You Reach Your Goals?
Can a little radical delusion help you achieve things you never thought possible? Ben and Alice explore the balance between believing in your potential and maintaining realistic expectations, using their experiences in natural bodybuilding, coaching, and major life transitions to examine how...
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Episode 281: Bad Night of Sleep? Here's What to Do
Sleep plays a huge role in recovery, muscle growth, hunger, and overall well-being, but getting consistently good rest isn't always easy. Alice and Giacomo discuss their own sleep struggles, from waking up in the middle of the night to navigating seasonal changes, competition prep, stress, and...
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Episode 280: How to Stop Being Afraid of Injuries
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Giacomo discuss the fear of injury and how our mindset can shape our experiences with pain, training, and recovery. They explore the biopsychosocial model of pain, why an injury doesn't necessarily mean something is permanently wrong, and how...
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Episode 279: What If Going Vegan Was Easier Than You Thought?
Going vegan can feel overwhelming at first, but it doesn't have to mean changing everything overnight. Giacomo and Alice share practical advice for getting started, from simple food swaps and easy meal ideas to convenient vegan protein sources like tofu, soy curls, and seitan. They explain how to...
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Episode 278: How to Talk to Non-Vegans Without Losing Your Mind
How do you talk about veganism with people who don't share your perspective? Ben and Giacomo discuss the idea of calling non-vegans "pre-vegans," the importance of meeting people where they are, and how their own approaches to vegan advocacy have evolved over time. They talk about the pressure to...
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Episode 277: Coaches Catch Up September 2026
The five Vegan Proteins coaches sit down for the first "Coaches Catch Up" to talk about what’s happening in their training, competition prep, and lives outside the gym. Ben shares the story behind his surprise competition prep and his approach to classic physique, while Alice talks about her...
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Episode 276: Ben Coaches Sawyer in Real Time
Ben and Sawyer sit down for an in-depth look at what coaching actually looks like in practice. They revisit Sawyer's successful cut from the upper 170s to the mid-160s, the challenges of hunger and fear of muscle loss, and how slowing down the transition out of a cut helped him maintain his...
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Episode 275: Becoming a Champion Vegan Bodybuilder with Alex Payne
Alex Payne joins Ben on Muscles by Brussels Radio to discuss his journey from athletics and years of lifting on his own to becoming a competitive vegan bodybuilder and completing two bodybuilding seasons. Alex shares how becoming vegan gave him a deeper sense of purpose for bodybuilding…
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Episode 274: How to Eat Out Without Ruining Your Progress
Eating out is inevitable, whether you're traveling, meeting family, attending a work lunch, or simply not in the mood to cook. Dani and Alice break down how to navigate restaurants as a vegan while still building meals that work for your nutrition and physique goals. They cover Mexican, Indian,...
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Episode 273: Can You Get Lean Without Tracking?
Do you need to track every calorie and macro to make progress? Ben and Dani discuss the pros and cons of macro tracking, how nutrition tracking evolved, and why tracking can be an incredibly useful tool without needing to become a permanent part of your life. They also explore meal plans, meal...
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Episode 272: Before You Compete in Bodybuilding, Watch This
Thinking about stepping onstage for the first time? Coaches Ben & Alice dive deep into what aspiring natural bodybuilding competitors should consider before committing to a contest. They discuss who tends to thrive in bodybuilding, the importance of structure and routine, having a healthy...
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Episode 271: From Dream to Reality: Shireen's Bodybuilding Journey
Shireen joins Ben and Giacomo to share her journey from going vegan for her health to discovering bodybuilding and eventually stepping onstage for her first competition. She talks about her lifelong interest in athletics, cosplay, and superheroes, and how building confidence through fitness...
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Episode 270: How to Track Macros Without Losing Your Mind
Flexible dieting can seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn't have to be. In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Coach Sawyer and Giacomo break down a practical approach to getting started without obsessing over numbers or overhauling your entire diet overnight. They discuss how to build...
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Episode 269: Why Everything Hurts When You Lift
Mobility, flexibility, and stability are often overlooked until pain or injuries force them into the spotlight...but they can make the difference between years of productive training and chronic setbacks. In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Dani and Giacomo discuss the key differences...
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Episode 268: Is 10k Steps Overrated? Your Cardio Questions Answered
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Sawyer take a broader look at the role of movement in a healthy lifestyle. They discuss why staying active is about much more than burning calories, covering everything from daily step counts and intentional cardio to recovery, longevity, and...
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Episode 267: Why Bad Nutrition Advice Goes Viral (w/ Mic the Vegan)
Evidence-based nutrition doesn't always win the attention economy...but it's what leads to lasting health. In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Coach Sawyer sit down with Mic the Vegan to discuss his journey from skeptical omnivore to one of the most trusted science communicators...
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Episode 266: The Biggest Myth About Diabetes with Cyrus Khambatta, PhD
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Giacomo sit down with Cyrus Khambatta, PhD, co-founder of Mastering Diabetes, to unpack the science behind insulin resistance, diabetes, and long-term metabolic health. Cyrus shares his own journey living with type 1 diabetes and explains why...
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Episode 265: Peptides Explained: The Good, the Bad & the Hype
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, the Vegan Proteins coaching team sits down for their first-ever roundtable discussion to tackle one of the hottest topics in fitness right now: peptides. Ben, Dani, Sawyer, Alice, and Giacomo break down what peptides actually are, why they’ve become…
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Episode 264: Diet Smarter, Not Harder
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Dani discuss nonlinear dieting and how adjusting calorie intake throughout the week can make fat loss more sustainable. They break down strategies like high/low days, refeeds, diet breaks, and flexible calorie targets while explaining why...
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Episode 263: The Fitness Myths Holding You Back
In this episode of Vegan Proteins' Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben is joined by coaches Sawyer and Giacomo for a roundtable discussion on common beginner fitness mistakes and myths that can hold people back. They break down misconceptions around cardio, nutrition, muscle growth, training…
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Episode 262: Menopause and Weight Loss: Why Your Old Strategies Stop Working
In this episode of Vegan Proteins' Muscles by Brussels Radio, Dani and Alice dive deep into the realities of perimenopause, menopause, hormones, and maintaining a strong, healthy physique as women get older. They discuss the overwhelming amount of information online, the difference between…
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Episode 261: How Kelsey Became a Pro Bodybuilder in 6 Months
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben sits down with coaching client Kelsey to discuss her remarkable first bodybuilding season, which culminated in earning professional status. Kelsey shares what initially inspired her to compete, how she balanced contest prep with a demanding legal...
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Episode 260: Do GLP-1s Really Cause Muscle Loss? ft. Dr. Angie Sadeghi
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben sits down with Dr. Angie Sadeghi for an in-depth conversation on GLP-1 medications, gut health, digestion, fiber, and the growing confusion surrounding modern nutrition advice. Dr. Sadeghi explains how medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro…
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Episode 259: The Fitness & Nutrition Creators We Actually Trust in 2026
Ben and Sawyer begin with a life update covering travel, training structure, and adapting to new environments as a vegan athlete living abroad. Sawyer discusses moving from Spain to Albania, dealing with culture shock, finding vegan food options, and maintaining gym consistency while adjusting to…
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Episode 258: We Messed Up...Let's Set the Record Straight
In this episode, Giacomo and Sawyer dive into the biggest coaching mistakes they’ve made throughout their careers and how their perspectives on coaching have evolved over time. The conversation explores everything from rigid programming and poor communication to sustainability, emotional…
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Episode 257: Dr. Greger ON: How Much Protein Do We REALLY Need?
In this episode, Ben and Giacomo are joined by Dr. Michael Greger to discuss one of the most debated topics in nutrition and fitness: protein intake. The conversation covers how much protein we actually need, the potential longevity tradeoffs of excessive protein consumption, and why plant…
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Episode 256: "The Vegan Diet Saved My Life" (Coach Alice's Story)
In this episode, Coach Alice shares her deeply personal journey from growing up as a chronically ill child with exercise-induced asthma and ulcerative colitis to becoming a vegan bodybuilder, strongwoman athlete, and coach at Vegan Proteins. Alice opens up about how years of struggling with...
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Episode 255: From Poverty to Purpose: Dani's Story
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Dani shares her full journey, from growing up in a low-income household with poor nutrition habits to becoming a leader in vegan fitness coaching. She opens up about early weight struggles, discovering veganism, and losing over 80 pounds through diet...
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Episode 254: From Outsider to Leader in Vegan Fitness: Giacomo's Story
In this episode, Giacomo shares his full journey from a shy, non-athletic kid to a competitive bodybuilder and coach. He opens up about discovering confidence through fitness, how bodybuilding became a lifelong pursuit, and the lessons he’s learned over 15+ years in the gym. The conversation…
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Episode 253: Bodybuilding Changed My Life: Coach Ben's Story
In this episode, Ben shares his full journey into bodybuilding and coaching, from early insecurities and extreme dieting to developing a more balanced, sustainable approach to fitness. He talks about how his mindset evolved, why relationships and lifestyle flexibility now play a bigger role in…
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Episode 252: Can Body Positivity and Weight Loss Coexist?
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Dani sits down with Randall and Robin to explore the nuanced relationship between body positivity and weight loss. They share their personal journeys through long-term struggles with body image, food, and fitness, including major weight loss...
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Episode 251: Scrawny Teen to Vegan Bodybuilder: Coach Sawyer's Story
In this episode, Ben sits down with Coach Sawyer to kick off a new series highlighting the personal stories behind the Vegan Proteins coaching team. Sawyer shares his evolution from a sports-loving kid with performance anxiety to a dedicated lifter navigating body image struggles, extreme bulking...
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Episode 250: How to Stay on Track While Traveling
In this episode, Dani and Alice break down how to stay on track with your fitness goals while traveling, without making your life miserable. They cover realistic expectations for different types of trips, how to approach workouts on the road, and creative ways to hit protein targets as a vegan....
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Episode 249: You're Injured...Now What?
In this episode, Giacomo and Sawyer tackle a challenge nearly every lifter eventually faces: getting injured. They discuss the mental side of dealing with setbacks, how to adjust your training without completely losing momentum, and the importance of patience during recovery. The conversation...
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Episode 248: How to Stay Full While Dieting
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Alice and Sawyer break down one of the biggest challenges of dieting: managing hunger during a fat-loss phase. They discuss what people should realistically expect when entering a calorie deficit and why dieting shouldn’t feel like constant suffering....
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Episode 247: How to Spot a Scam Artist
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Dani break down how to spot scam artists in the fitness and wellness space. They discuss common red flags like speaking in absolutes, fear-mongering about foods and training methods, overpromising results, expert creep, manipulative sales...
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Episode 246: Bulk, Cut, or Recomp?
Should you cut, bulk, or recomp? In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Giacomo break down how to decide which phase is right for you based on your training age, body fat level, goals, and mindset. They discuss why most people start with fat loss, why recomping is underrated, when…
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Episode 245: Can Ultra-Processed Foods Actually Be Healthy? ft. Dr. Minil Patel
In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben sits down with Dr. Minil Patel (aka @DrIronJunkie), UK-based GP and lifestyle medicine physician, to unpack one of the most controversial topics in nutrition right now: are ultra-processed foods actually unhealthy...and where do plant-based meats...
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Episode 244: Are Recovery Tools BS?
In this episode, Ben and Alice dive into the increasingly popular world of recovery tools and break down what actually helps versus what’s mostly hype. They discuss heat and cold therapies like sauna use, hot showers, cold plunges, and ice baths, and how each affects the nervous system,...
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Episode 243: How to Be Fit If You Hate Exercise
What if staying fit didn’t mean forcing yourself through workouts you hate? In this episode, Dani and Sawyer talk honestly about exercise burnout, why so many people struggle to stay consistent, and how redefining “fitness” can change everything. They break down practical ways to build strength…
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Episode 242: What's the Best Training Program?
Is there really a “best” training split? In this episode, Ben and Sawyer break down the most popular workout splits: bro splits, push-pull-legs, upper/lower, and full-body training, and explain how to choose the right one based on your goals, recovery, schedule, and lifestyle. They share personal...
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Episode 241: Should You Get Coaching? (What to Know)
In this episode, Giacomo and Sawyer explore why coaches need coaches, even at the highest levels of fitness and bodybuilding. They dive into the emotional side of coaching, accountability, mindset, and how having the right support can unlock long-term progress. Through personal stories and…
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Episode 240: Is Protein Powder Unhealthy?
In this episode, Alice and Giacomo take a deep dive into vegan protein powders: past, present, and future. They break down the history of plant-based proteins, compare blends vs isolates, address common concerns around amino acid profiles, digestion, heavy metals, sweeteners, and cost, and…
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Episode 239: How to Feel Supported in Fitness
In this episode of Vegan Proteins' Muscles by Brussels Radio, Giacomo and Dani dive into what it really means to find and ask for support on a fitness journey. From navigating family dynamics and romantic relationships to handling food environments, training schedules, and social pressure, they...
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Episode 238: Gain Weight to Lose Weight (Women Too!)
In this episode of Vegan Proteins: Muscles by Brussels Radio, Alice and Sawyer unpack the complex relationship between weight gain, weight loss, muscle building, and modern culture. They explore how lifestyle structure, calorie density, and societal norms make long-term weight management…
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Episode 237: Should You Trust Advice from Bodybuilders?
In this episode, Ben and Alice explore what competitive bodybuilders and lifestyle athletes can learn from each other. They discuss stress management, consistency, expectations, training intensity, nutrition structure, and balance, highlighting how blending discipline with flexibility can lead to...
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Episode 236: Being Strong Through Adversity
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Melanie, a vegan powerlifter whose past year has been marked by massive life changes, personal growth, and record-setting strength. She opens up about navigating divorce, rebuilding her life, discovering the power of community, and transforming her...
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Episode 235: Build More Muscle in Less Time?
In this episode, Ben and Sawyer break down the art of time efficient training. They explore how to get the most muscle building stimulus with the least time investment by dialing in exercise selection, intensity, and smart programming. You’ll learn the difference between maintenance and growth...
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Episode 234: The Secret to Building Momentum
In this episode, Alice and Giacomo dive deep into the real key to fitness success: habits. From overcoming negative self-talk and embracing the long game to celebrating small wins and building supportive community, they unpack what it truly takes to keep momentum on your health and strength...
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Episode 233: Is Bodybuilding Safe for Teens?
In this inspiring conversation, Ben, Dani, and Ellie dive into what it’s really like to pursue natural bodybuilding as a teenager—while balancing school, mental health, veganism, and a first competition prep. Ellie shares her athletic background, her transition from running to strength training,...
About this show
The ultimate podcast for vegan fitness enthusiasts! Hosted by vegan coaches of over 15 years, Dani Taylor and Giacomo Marchese, this show dives deep into the world of vegan bodybuilding, strength training, and nutrition. With expert advice, science-based insights, and real-life experiences, the Vegan Proteins Team helps you navigate your fitness journey while debunking myths and providing actionable tips. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out, Muscle by Brussels Radio is your go-to resource for achieving your best vegan physique. Tune in and transform your body and mind!
Hosted by
Dani Taylor