Long winters don’t stall endurance—they build it. In this 10‑minute quickcast, Chris lays out a simple offseason plan: stack Zone 2 anywhere (bike/row/SkiErg) to grow your aerobic base; use Zone 3 outdoors for steady pace even in layers; then raise the ceiling with Zone 4–5 intervals and CF‑style mixed sessions that keep you pushing without pounding one joint pattern. Add strength (squats, hinges, presses, pulls) to fix joint‑dominance and prevent overuse, and add power (jumps, throws, cleans) to make every stride or pedal stroke stronger. Cyclists: smart trainers are great for tempo/threshold, but the real offseason edge comes from the gym.

CTA: Book a No‑Sweat Intro at Catalyst and get your winter plan dialed.

Protein Quality: Real vs. Label Claims

Protein is suddenly in everything—coffee, candy, cereal—but do those “15g protein” labels actually help you build or keep muscle? In this 10-minute quickcast, Chris explains bioavailability (usable protein), how processing can damage amino acids, and why grams on a label ≠ quality. You’ll learn which foods give you the most useful protein, how “protein-washed” snacks sneak in sugar, and simple real-food options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. If you’re “hitting your protein” but not seeing results, this episode shows what to change.

45-7-6 StairMaster: Smart or Silly?

The “45-7-6” trend—45 minutes on the StairMaster at level 7, six days a week—is everywhere. In this quickcast, Chris explains what it is, why it’s viral, and how to test it once or twice without wrecking your joints or stalling your strength gains. You’ll learn simple cues to actually hit your glutes (not just quads), why going hands-free matters, and how to use the talk test to keep it aerobic. We also cover why number-based cardio formulas keep cycling through social feeds (novelty sells!) and finish with the Catalyst plan that always works: consistently varied strength + metabolic training you can sustain for years—think full-body lifts 2–3x/week plus a rotation of Zone 2 and short interval work. Trends are fun; results come from posture, programming, and patience.

CTA: Book a No-Sweat Intro at Catalyst—link in the show notes.