RFK Jr.'s Senate Showdown on Vaccines, Study Links Cardio to Lower Dementia Risk, and My Fall 2025 Muscle-Building Blueprint | Week of 9/8/2025
Episode Description
<p>This week on Stronger Weekly (formerly Running Free), we break down the most important health and fitness headlines of the week: </p><p>- RFK Jr.’s heated Senate testimony on vaccines and public trust.</p><p>- A viral Pentagon fitness challenge with Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr. (100 pushups and 50 pullups in under five minutes).</p><p>- A new Cleveland Clinic survey on how exercise impacts men’s mental health and sex drive.</p><p>- groundbreaking research on how childhood fitness habits shape lifelong health outcomes.</p><p>- A decades-long study from Sweden showing that cardiovascular fitness may cut dementia risk by as much as 88%.Plus, Jesse shares his personal Fall/Winter 2026 blueprint — how he’s structuring training, nutrition, and lifestyle hacks to pack on lean muscle-mass, with takeaways you can apply in your own life.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>FOLLOW US ON ALL PLATFORMS</strong></p><p>- Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/4at8Yhn" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://apple.co/4at8Yhn</a></p><p>- Spotify Podcasts: <a href="https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ</a></p><p>- YouTube Channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RunningFreePodcast" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Running Free Podcast - YouTube</a>- Visit our website <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/strongerweekly/episodes/%E2%81%A0www.runningfreepod.com%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">here</a>. </p><p>- Subscribe to our newsletter <a href="https://runningfreepod.com/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">here</a>. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>SPONSORS</strong></p><p>- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: <a href="https://bit.ly/OarStrength" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://bit.ly/OarStrength</a></p><p>- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": <a href="https://livemomentous.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://livemomentous.com</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>EPISODE RESOURCES/LINKS</strong></p><li><p>- RFK Jr.’s Senate Showdown on Public Health and Vaccines<br><em>Live coverage of the Senate hearing</em><br><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09/04/us/rfk-jr-senate-hearing-health" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Source: <em>New York Times</em>, Live Senate Coverage</a></p></li><li><p>- RFK Jr. & Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon Fitness Challenge<br><em>“Pete and Bobby challenge” — 100 pushups & 50 pullups in under 5 minutes</em><br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rfk-jr-hegseth-face-off-impressive-pullup-pushup-pentagon-showdown?msockid=32a6ebd543f061c62f2bf837425d6086" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Source: <em>Fox News</em></a></p></li><li><p>- Cleveland Clinic Survey — Exercise Impacts Men’s Mental Health and Sex Drive<br><em>Cleveland Clinic’s MENtion It® campaign findings</em><br><a href="https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2025/09/03/cleveland-clinic-finds-most-men-say-exercise-positively-impacts-their-mental-health-confidence-and-sex-drive-but-nearly-1-in-3-still-skip-it" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Source: <em>Cleveland Clinic Newsroom</em></a></p></li><li><p>- Childhood Fitness Habits Shape Lifelong Health Outcomes<br><em>Study by University of Georgia and Finnish cohort</em><br><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-fitness-habits-shape-lifelong-health-outcomes/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Source: <em>Earth.com</em></a></p></li><li><p>- Cardio (Cycling) Linked to Significantly Lower Dementia Risk<br><em>44-year Swedish study, published in Neurology – 88% lower dementia risk for highly fit</em><br><a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/fitness/44-year-study-reveals-this-workout-reduces-dementia-risk-by-88-percent?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Source: <em>Tom’s Guide</em> (citing the study)</a></p><p><br></p><p>The health and fitness news you actually need, delivered every Monday by Certified Health & Fitness Expert, USMC Veteran, and Healthcare Executive Jesse Carrajat. Get the facts first on the research, trends, and breakthroughs that matter — plus conversations with leading experts and thought leaders on how to build a stronger, longer, healthier life. Give us 45 minutes each week, and we’ll help you grow Stronger Weekly.</p></li>