Strong By Design Podcast
Hosted by Strong By Design
A faith-based health podcast where a veteran strength coach interviews experts on fitness, mindset, and entrepreneurship, framed by Christian values.
A weekly podcast that blends practical health and fitness advice with motivational personal development, all filtered through a Christian worldview. Host Chris Wilson alternates between solo episodes, where he shares personal stories of overcoming struggle, and long-form interviews with authors, coaches, and fitness experts. The show is an extension of the Critical Bench fitness brand, aiming to provide solutions for strength, health, and mindset.
“Unlike purely scientific fitness podcasts or secular self-help shows, Strong By Design explicitly frames its guidance within a Christian context, using phrases like "made in God's image." The host's dual role as a solo motivator and an interviewer creates a unique blend of personal reflection and expert deep-dives.”
Who hosts this show
Strong By Design is hosted by Chris Wilson, the Head Strength Coach and VP of Content for the fitness company Critical Bench. With a career in fitness since 1998, Chris is a certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist who mixes solo motivational episodes with expert interviews. The show's core message is that people are made in God's image to have a strong body, mind, and spirit, exploring topics from physical training to overcoming personal adversity.
Credentials & credits
- Head Strength Coach, CriticalBench.com
- VP of Content, Critical Bench
- B.S. in Communications, Eastern Connecticut State University
- NASM Certified Personal Trainer
- Specialist in Sports Nutrition (SSN)
- Russian Kettlebell Certification (RKC)
Other ventures
- Critical Bench (fitness publishing company)
- Critical Nutrition Labs (supplement company)
- Author and product creator for Critical Bench
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Endure the Trials to Enjoy the Triumphs | Strong By Design Ep 434Jun 24, 2026 · 49 min
- 02Ep 434 Endure the Trials to Enjoy the TriumphsJun 24, 2026 · 49 min
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06Ep 432 When Success Costs You What Matters Most ft. Joey VaillancourtMay 27, 2026 · 43 min
- 07From Drift to Discipline: Building a Legacy Body ft. Shaun Hadsall | SBD Ep 431May 13, 2026 · 57 min
- 08Ep 431 From Drift to Discipline: Building a Legacy Body ft. Shaun HadsallMay 13, 2026 · 57 min
Notable episodes
- 01Endure the Trials to Enjoy the Triumphs | Strong By Design Ep 434
A representative solo episode where host Chris Wilson shares his core philosophy on growth through resistance, using a personal story of being fired.
- 02Move Your BUT: The Hidden Excuses Keeping High Performers Stuck | Strong By Design Ep 433
A typical interview episode that showcases the host's conversational style and the type of expert guest (author/coach) featured on the show.
- 03No BS Fitness and Strength Talk ft. MIND PUMP | Strong By Design Ep 145
A high-profile collaboration with the hosts of the popular Mind Pump podcast, demonstrating the show's reach within the fitness community.
What you'll be asked on this show
Chris Wilson begins interviews by warmly welcoming the audience and providing context for his guest's appearance, sometimes mentioning a personal connection. [RPam4_BXrNk] He probes a guest's backstory and motivations with direct, open-ended questions like "What really prompted you to write this book?". [RPam4_BXrNk] To build rapport, he actively listens and shares his own related experiences, such as journaling or family loss, creating a conversational and empathetic dynamic. [RPam4_BXrNk] His questions often follow the guest's narrative, digging deeper into concepts they introduce rather than sticking to a rigid script.
The show alternates between solo, motivational episodes and guest interviews. In solo shows, Chris Wilson uses personal anecdotes, like being fired during the 2008 recession, to illustrate principles of growth through adversity. [YsVeENyQqcE, rgwoIYQgdKc] Interview episodes feature a warm, rapport-building style where Chris often relates his own experiences to the guest's story. [RPam4_BXrNk]
Questions Strong By Design keeps coming back to
5 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Strong By Design reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“What really prompted you to write this book?”
Asked after establishing the guest's background to uncover the core motivation behind their work. [RPam4_BXrNk]
- Q.02
“Where exactly is [guest's hometown]?”
An early, simple question to ground the conversation and learn more about the guest's personal background. [RPam4_BXrNk]
mindset
2- Q.01
“Why is this happening to me?”
The host presents this question as the hallmark of a 'victim mindset' he encourages listeners to overcome. [YsVeENyQqcE, rgwoIYQgdKc]
- Q.02
“What is this teaching me?”
This is the re-framed question the host offers as a tool to shift into a growth mindset during trials. [YsVeENyQqcE, rgwoIYQgdKc]
process
1- Q.01
“When did you start journaling?”
A follow-up question used to explore a guest's personal habits and processes after they mention it. [RPam4_BXrNk]
Signature segments
- · "You are Strong By Design"
- · "Made in God's image to have a strong body, mind and spirit"
- · Growth happens through resistance
- · Solo motivational episodes
- · "Stinkin' thinkin'" (negative self-talk)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The podcast features authors, speakers, and experts in fields like leadership, fitness, and personal development. [RPam4_BXrNk, WarlvqpLzHU, qEPR5DSlNjg] Guests often have a book, a specific coaching methodology, or a personal transformation story to share that aligns with the show's themes of mindset and resilience.
- Kelly Moseron Move Your BUT: The Hidden Excuses Keeping High Performers Stuck | Strong By Design Ep 433
- Joey Vaillancourton When Success Costs You What Matters Most ft. Joey Vaillancourt | Strong By Design Ep 432
- Shaun Hadsallon From Drift to Discipline: Building a Legacy Body ft. Shaun Hadsall | SBD Ep 431
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is brought to you by Critical Bench, a fitness publishing company, and its affiliate Critical Nutrition Labs. Sponsorship opportunities would likely appeal to brands in the health, wellness, fitness equipment, and supplement industries, particularly those targeting an audience interested in longevity and holistic well-being.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Strong By Design
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People also ask
- What is the host's real name?
- The host is Chris Wilson, who often goes by "Coach Chris".
- What is the podcast's format?
- The show alternates between solo motivational episodes hosted by Chris Wilson and long-form interviews with expert guests. [YsVeENyQqcE, RPam4_BXrNk]
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, new episodes are released weekly on Wednesdays, with occasional bonus episodes.
- What is Critical Bench?
- Critical Bench is a fitness publishing company founded by Mike Westerdal. It produces a wide range of content, including workout programs, articles, and videos, and is the parent company of the podcast.
- How can I be a guest on the show?
- The show's description provides an email for inquiries about guest appearances or collaborations: [email — gated].
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Buzzsprout.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Chris Wilson | Critical Benchcriticalbench.com
- [02]Strong By Design Podcast (Official Site)strongbydesignpodcast.com
- [03]About the Creator Chris Wilson, RKC, CPT - Critical Benchcriticalbench.com
- [04]Strong By Design Podcast - Buzzsproutbuzzsprout.com
- [05]Meet The Team - Critical Nutrition Labscriticalnutritionlabs.com
- [06]Strong by Design with Chris Wilson - YouTubeyoutube.com
- [07]Critical Bench Official Websitecriticalbench.com
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