Episodes

Ultra-processed foods now make up 55% of the daily calories for the average American. How did this happen and should we be concerned?In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we explore how ultra-processed foods took over the modern diet, why they became so popular, and what their rise may have cost us in terms of obesity, metabolic health, hormones, diabetes, and human vitality.We look at the convenience, taste, low cost, shelf stability, and marketing power that made ultra-pro...

Dr. Weston A Price's Nutrition & Physical Degeneration is the most important book ever written on human health and nutrition. Full stop. But how many of the foods and ideas commonly associated with Dr. Price actually appear in the book or in the traditional populations he studied? The answer may surprise you. Whether you love Price's work, hate it, or have never heard the name... this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel is for you. 00:00 What Everyone Get...

Who burns more calories in a day: a sedentary office worker in an average American city, or a highly active African hunter-gatherer who walks 7 miles a day foraging and tracking game?The answer seems obvious, but science tells a completely different—and shocking—story.Welcome back to another mind-blowing episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel. This week, we are diving deep into the fascinating phenomenon known as The Exercise Paradox. When researchers compared the daily energy expendi...

The average American gets over 55% of their calories from ultra-processed foods… and for years, many have suspected this plays a major role in weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.But here’s the shocking part…The first randomized controlled trial to actually test this didn’t happen until 2019.Led by top NIH researcher Kevin Hall, the study compared ultra-processed vs. unprocessed diets—matched for calories, protein, fat, sugar, and fiber.Same macros. Same calories.And yet…Participan...

Is staying natural the smarter path to building muscle, improving fitness, and protecting long-term health?In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we break down the rising trend of steroids, SARMs, peptides, and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs)—and make a powerful, evidence-based case for staying natty.From TikTok fitness influencers to everyday gym-goers, PED use is becoming mainstream—especially among young men chasing faster gains and aesthetic physiques. But what are the...

Does eating fat actually make you fat? Or has modern nutrition science gotten the story backwards? In this episode of Unconditional, Norbie Schickel explores one of the biggest debates in modern nutrition: low-carb vs. low-fat diets and whether fat loss really comes down to “calories in, calories out.” The episode revisits the rise of the low-carb movement after Gary Taubes’ influential 2002 article, “What If It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?”, which challenged decades of dietary advice by arguing...

What if the last 10 years of your life are nothing like you imagine? In this episode of Unconditional, Norbie reflects on turning 42 (10.5 leap years) and dives deep into longevity, health span, and how to train for what Dr. Peter Attia calls the Marginal Decade — the final decade of your life that you won’t see coming. Inspired by a powerful centenarian quote featured by Business Insider — “If I think old, I’m going to act old” — this episode explores why mindset alone isn’t enough. You have...

We’ve never had more gyms, trainers, or fitness advice—so why are more people overweight than ever?What if the modern fitness gym, and an industry shaped by bodybuilding is actually keeping you from building the lean, ripped and athletic body that you are going for?In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we break down how to build a lean, muscular, athletic physique without relying on expensive gyms, complicated machines, or bodybuilding-style “bro splits.” After personally lo...

The average American consumes about 17 teaspoons of added sugar per day. It’s in candy and soda, sure… but also pasta sauce, ketchup, and nearly everything processed. At a time when over 70% of adults are overweight or obese—and rates of depression and metabolic disfunction are climbing—it’s worth asking:Is sugar at the root of the problem?In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, I share my personal story of how sugar—despite being lean and in shape—was destabilizing my mood, a...

Are young men destroying their hormones to win at Tinder? In 2014, Jeremy Meeks’ mugshot went viral — not because of his crime, but because of his looks. Within months of leaving prison, he was modeling for major fashion brands. A redemption story? Maybe. Or maybe something else. In this episode of Unconditional, Norbie Schickel dives deep into the controversial rise of “looksmaxxing” — a growing movement of young men using everything from fitness and jaw exercises to Botox, testosterone, fil...

Testosterone is so powerful it had to be banned from sports. So why are modern men producing 25% less of it than they were just 15 years ago? In this episode of Unconditional, Norbie Schickel breaks down one of the most alarming — and misunderstood — health trends of our time: the collapse of testosterone in modern life. Testosterone isn’t just about muscle, sex drive, or aggression. It’s the hormone that fuels energy, motivation, confidence, focus, fertility, mental health, and long-term vit...

This is an unofficial Part 2 to last week’s episode on smartphones and social media. If screens are pulling us into the virtual world, this episode explores why real-world adventure, risk, and connection may be the antidote.Last week was the diagnosis. This episode is about what comes next.Smartphones and social media aren’t going anywhere. The question is whether we drift passively into a screen-dominated life—or choose something better. Not by banning technology or pretending it doesn’t exi...

Have smartphones and social media actually made our lives better—or are they quietly destroying our mental health?In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we take a deep dive into the impact of smartphones and social media on mental health, childhood development, and modern life, drawing heavily on the work of social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and his groundbreaking book The Anxious Generation.Since around 2010, rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among teenag...

The food pyramid is back—and according to the headlines, it’s been flipped upside down. But has it really?In this episode of Unconditional, host Norbie Schickel breaks down the newly released U.S. dietary guidelines and the updated food pyramid, separating media hype from what the recommendations actually say. From claims about beef tallow and full-fat dairy to suggestions that Americans should eat dramatically more meat and protein, Norbie walks through the numbers, the context, and the overl...

Should I quit drinking when I don’t have a problem?In this episode of Unconditional Norbie Schickel shares his honest experience of quitting alcohol after more than 20 years of low-to-moderate drinking, and what changed over two years without it. This is not a conversation about addiction, shame, or moral judgment. It’s about effectiveness, clarity, and intentional living in a culture where alcohol is deeply woven into social life.If you’re considering Dry January, curious about sobriety, or...

In this episode of Unconditional, host Norbie Schickel breaks down the simplest, most sustainable path to getting lean, strong, and radically healthy—without crash diets, endless cardio, or injectable weight-loss drugs.After exploring the shocking history of polio and the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic in recent episodes, today we shift fully into fitness, metabolism, and the truth about what actually works for long-term fat loss.Norbie shares the real first step to transforming your ...

What do you really know about polio? 💡If you believe that the story of polio is fundamentally one of virus 🔬and vaccines prepare to have your mind blown 💥.Most of us grew up with this story: a terrifying disease emerges sometime in the not-too-distant past. Some lives are lost, while others are left crippled or paralyzed for life.Scientists race against time to isolate the virus, develop a vaccine, and finally bring the nightmare to an end.But what if that story is only part of the truth? ...

💡 What would your life look like if you finally broke free from your greatest limiting belief? Why do efforts to free ourselves from limiting beliefs almost always fail?In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we explore how to identify and crush the hidden beliefs that hold you back from reaching your full potential — and becoming your best self. ❤️If you’ve ever felt like something inside you is keeping you from living the life you know you’re capable of, this conversation is...

🥩🌱 Carnivore or vegan — what is the optimal human diet? Is it possible that both sides have been fighting the wrong enemy? Is it time to end the diet wars?In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we dive deep into one of the most divisive debates in health and nutrition: animal based diets vs. plant based diets. Is one truly superior — or are we fighting the wrong battle?Join us as we explore why the “diet wars” may be distracting us from the real enemy: ultra-processed foods. ...

Vegan or carnivore — who’s right? 🥦🥩Are humans meant to eat plants, meat, or both? In this episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, we dive into the ongoing “diet wars,” exploring plant-based and carnivore lifestyles, the ethics of eating meat and the optimal human diet.In today's episode, we discuss Norbie's personal dietary choices, his own health journey, and how his thinking has evolved under after reading the work of people like Dr. Weston A. Price and more.The answer is not wha...

GLP1s have taken the health and fitness world by storm. While they can be effective for many people, they are not right for everyone, and they don't work for everyone. Is there another way?Join us this week for another episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, as we continue our conversation on solving the obesity epidemic, metabolic disfunction and restoring radical health, all without the use of pharmaceutical drugs.In this in-depth discussion we explore key questions related to this ...

Have GLP-1 agonists killed diet and exercise? Is there a way to lose weight, burn fat and recompose your body without the use of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Munjaro?Join us this week for another episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel, were we continue our conversation on solving solving the obesity epidemic, metabolic disfunction and restoring radical health, all without the use of pharmaceutical drugs.Join Norbie — father, fitness enthusiast, and founder of ⁠Anthem Athletics⁠ — as...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most controversial topics within the health and fitness world today: Ozempic, GLP-1 Agonists and injectable weight loss drugs.For this conversation, we will reference the excellent book, Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits And Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs, by journalist Johann Hari. With over 40% of the adult American population currently obese, and 47% of Americans saying they would pay for weight loss drugs, this is an issue we sho...

Preview of this week's episode of Unconditional with Norbie Schickel. Full episode will be released Wednesday, October 15, 2025.Join us this week as we dive into one of the most important and controversial topics within the health and fitness world today: Ozempic, GLP-1 Agonists and injectable weight loss drugs.For this conversation, we will reference the excellent book, Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits And Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs, by journalist Johann Hari. With ...