The KRUSE ELITE Podcast
The KRUSE ELITE Podcast combines the science of strength and conditioning with applied neuroscience to help listeners overcome pain and achieve gains. Hosted by Taylor Kruse, the show offers insights and practical tools for optimizing physical performance and well-being.
Episodes
#70 - Q&A - Alisha is Back! Can Trigger Point Cause Damage? What You Need to Know About Muscle Tone, How to Add Applied Neurology to Your Practice, and More...
In this episode, Alisha returns to the podcast and joins me as we speak with my producer, Tony, to answer questions from the listeners.
We discuss:
Can trigger point release cause damage
Protective tension and muscle guarding
What you need to know about muscle tone
Inhibiting pain during recovery
Movement visualization
Acupuncture, vertigo, and inflammation
How to add applied
#69 - Aquatic Training for Recovery and Coordination
What if aquatic training could turbo-charge your recovery? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, all about aquatic training and how I would often use it to aid in recovery, reduce inflammation and improve many facets of movement like strength, coordination, mobility, endurance, and more. I discuss how aquatic training and the Burdenko&n
#68 - Q&A - Stimulating the Vagus Nerve, Dealing with Migraines and Headaches, Blood Pressure Assessments, Concussions and the Visual System, and More...
In this episode, I speak with my producer, Tony, to answer questions from the listeners and we discuss:
What causes vision and vestibular issues
Concussions and the visual system
Peripheral vision and tracking movement
Stimulating the vagus nerve - Exhalation based breathing drills
A surprising benefit of strength training - Dealing with chronic headaches and migraines
Using
#67 - Mobilizing the Lymphatic System
Could your lymphatic system actually be the cause of your muscle pain? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about the lymphatic system and how this often overlooked system is intimately tied to circulation, immune-response, muscle tone, sympathetics, breathing, mobility, recovery, and more. I discuss the function and anatomy of the lymphatic sys
#66 - Surprising Benefits of Applied Neurology Training (WTH?)
In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, and borrow a popular concept from the kettlebell community to tell stories about some surprising and unexpected benefits of applied neurology training.
We discuss:
The "WTH" effect of kettlebell training
Diving sessions without pain due to vision training
Smooth pursuits, visual saccades, and gaze stabiliz
#65 - Q&A - The Neurology of Meditation, Training Strategies for Long-Term Brain Health, Wallet-Sitting and Posture, Dealing with Full-Body Tension on One Side, and More...
In this episode, I speak with my producer, Tony, to answer questions from the listeners and we discuss:
The neurology of meditation
My experiments with binaural beats
Dealing with full-body tension on one side
Opposing Joint Theory - PMRF patterns
Wallet-sitting and posture
The importance of cardio and strength training
Basic breathing and visual drills
Training strategies for long-
#64 - The 8 Levels of Applied Neurology - A Framework for Pain and Mobility Issues
What if you could use a single framework to diagnose your pain and mobility issues? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about the 8 Levels of Applied Neurology, and how any issue we are trying to solve can be viewed through this framework to better understand, diagnose, and target it at the neurological level. I outline the 8 Levels from t
#63 - What is Really Happening with Repetitive Motion Injuries
What if your tennis elbow is actually a symptom of a metabolic issue? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about common repetitive motion injuries that I get asked about frequently like tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, jumper's knee, tendonitis etc. I discuss why I don't love the term "repetitive motion injury" and how I prefer to th
#62 - The Neurology of Touch
What if a thirty-second massage could eliminate your pain? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about the power of touch from an applied neurology lens and how I utilize manual techniques in my practice to improve movement and relieve pain. I discuss the neurological pathways involved in sensing touch and how we can
#61 - Complex Movements and Cerebellar Training
What if you could improve your golf swing with complex movement drills? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about complex movement training and how it relates to the cerebellum, coordination, and pain. I discuss the neuroanatomy of the cerebellum and its role in coordination, balance, proprioception, posture and muscle tone and h
#60 - The Neuroscience of Frontal Lobe Training
Can you improve your lack of motivation with frontal lobe training? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, and talk about the frontal lobe and why it is an important region of the brain related to voluntary movement, inhibition, core stability, focus and pain. I outline common history findings that point to deficits in frontal lobe
#59 - What is Applied Neurology?
Does the word "neurology" make you think of scientists in white lab coats? In this episode, I bring it back to basics with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, and talk about what applied neurology really is. I define applied neurology as I use it in my practice and what sets it apart from other more clinical neuroscience-based disciplines like functional neurology. I
#58 - How to Change Your Autonomic Function
Do you have clients who never seem to warm up despite your best efforts? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about the autonomic system and how it relates to pain and mobility. I talk about the involuntary nature of the autonomic system, the relationship between voluntary and involuntary function, how the body will anticipate physical activity, the n
#57 - 2025 Year In Review
In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about how Kruse Elite has changed and grown over the past year and what we are focusing on going into 2026. I talk about the difference between social media growth and actual business success, what has changed in our Neuro Dojo courses over the past year, and why 2025 has been our best year yet. I also talk a
#56 - Setting Goals Around Pain
What if your pain is getting in the way of your health and fitness goals? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about setting goals around pain. I discuss why calendar-based goals can be a trap, what happens when pain gets in the way of your performance goals, how I think about goal-setting for my own training, how I help my clients achieve their p
#55 - Is Tracking Worth It?
What if tracking is hurting your progress? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about tracking in its many forms and how I think about it in the context of my own training and applied neurology practice. I discuss some more common tracking practices like steps, calories, macros, heart rate, weight/reps/sets, sleep etc. as well as some more ne
#54 - Expanding Your Movement Box
What if your ability to move well is shrinking? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about the concept of the 'movement box' and why creating a varied movement practice can be the key to a healthy, pain-free lifestyle. I discuss the neurology of movement and how movement can be trained through exposure, what happens when you don't have that e
#53 - What Chiropractors Should Know About Applied Neurology
What should you do if chiropractic adjustments aren't helping your client? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about using applied neurology to support chiropractic care. I discuss what is happening with chiropractic adjustments from a neurological lens, the state and diversity of the chiropractic industry, common misunderstandings about chi
#52 - Primitive Reflexes Explained: How Early Brain Development Shapes Behavior, Learning & Emotions with Rachel Harrington
Did your child skip some developmental milestones or seem a little behind in hitting them? Do they struggle with things like catching or throwing a ball, playing sports, or even making friends? Or maybe you were that kid once upon a time?
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with pediatric occupational therapy assistant Rachel Harrington all about primitive reflexes—w
#51 - Understanding Pain
What if most people are fundamentally misunderstanding how pain works? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about how I think about pain through an applied neurology lens. I discuss the psychology of pain, how we usually associate pain with injury, how pain is a construct of the brain related to threat, and why understanding the true nature of pai
#50 - Your Hearing May Be Your Weakest Link
What if listening to music in just one ear could make your pain go away? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about how we process sound and why it can be an incredible tool for improving balance, posture and muscle tone as well as decreasing pain. I discuss how audio is processed in the brain, what pathways it follows, what related syst
#49 - How to Find Your High Payoff Exercises
What if a simple drill could dramatically reduce your pain and improve your performance, but you just don't know what it is yet? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about how to find your high payoff exercises and drills. I walk you through a step by step process to establish a baseline for assessment, choose what movements to assess, and th
#48 - The Surprising Benefits of Pelvic Floor Training
What if kegels aren't working for you? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the pelvic floor. I discuss the anatomy around the pelvic floor, common problems you might not realize are related to poor pelvic floor function, an old injury I had that caused asymmetries and tonal issues with my pelvic floor, why I think most pelvic floor rehabilitation
#47 - What People Get WRONG about the Sympathetic System
What if elevating sympathetics could actually help with pain and stress? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the much-maligned sympathetic system. I discuss the neurology and anatomy of the sympathetic system and explain how it works in tandem with other systems to achieve the correct balance needed for movement, strength-training, and more.
#46 - Athletic Performance - Training Your Eyes to Improve Your Reaction Speed
What if training "fast" isn't actually the best way to improve reaction time for athletes? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about improving reaction speed to improve athletic performance. I discuss the neurology of reaction speed and how decisions are often made after first taking in visual information and understanding it. This is why improvi
#45 - Interoception and Understanding What Your Body Is Telling You
If you had a sense that could tell you how your body was functioning, would you use it? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about interoception and the important role it plays in the nervous system. I begin with a story about a client that was essentially blind to the internal functions and sensations of her own body
#44 - Fixing Alisha's Back Pain
What do applied neurology professionals do when they injure their back? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about Alisha's recent back injury and the tools we used immediately to start to fix her pain and get her back to training. I talk about how she got injured while we were moving, and then go step by step and detail what we did on d
#43 - Inhibition Tools - How To Turn Down Your Pain
What if you could decrease your pain by covering one eye? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about inhibition tools and how removing stimulus can actually be the key to success when it comes to decreasing pain and improving movement. I talk about overactivity in different systems of the brain, and why sometimes staying in that elevated state of a
#42 - The Neurology of Movement
What if you could fix your tight hamstrings by gargling water? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about how we can better understand movement by learning about the structures of the brain. I go over the main areas of the brain associated with movement, and discuss their location, their function, how to assess them, and how to train them. This episode
#41 - Gait Assessment - The Neuroscience of Walking
What if you could design your training program based on how you walk? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about gait assessment, and how the way you walk can reveal the health of your brain and give you clues about how to improve your movement and decrease pain. I discuss the difference between running gait and walking gait, the biomechanical rabbit hole,
#40 - Hypermobility and Pain: What You Need To Know
Are you or is someone you know hypermobile and dealing with pain? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about hypermobility, and how it's often connected to chronic pain, injury, and even autonomic issues. I use neurology to explain why this might be, as well as discuss how I approach training hypermobile individuals to decrease pain, optimize inter
#39 - Programming Strength, Movement, and Neurology
Did you know that applied neurology isn't actually the goal? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about the importance of a balanced strength and movement practice as the foundation for a healthy, fit, and pain-free life. I discuss my own training practice, the pros and cons of following a strict regimen vs following your intuition, why inter
#38 - Training Your Trigeminal Nerve
What if your knee pain can be cured by smelling salts? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the trigeminal nerve and why this large nerve in the face can have far reaching effects on the rest of the body. I discuss the anatomy of the trigeminal nerve, its primary functions, its connection to the brainstem and cranial nerves, and how these con
#37 - What you REALLY need to know about the Vagus Nerve
Have you ever heard someone say your vagus nerve needs a reset? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the Vagus nerve and navigate the line between fact and fiction with regard to this increasingly popular focal point for health and movement professionals. I outline the anatomy of the vagus nerve and discuss why it's often calle
#36 - Your Chronic Pain May Be A Fuel Issue with Matt Bush
Are you managing chronic pain? Do you have the type of pain that "flares up?" Or, maybe your pain moves from one body part to another and you're constantly playing whack-a-mole with your pain.
In today's episode, I speak with one of my very first instructors of applied neurology, Matt Bush, about signs and symptoms suggesting your brain and body are in need of fuel support. We
#35 - Neuromechanic Drills That You Can Use Today
What if you could solve your carpal tunnel or sciatic problems with a single drill? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about a category of drills that directly target the peripheral nerves called neuromechanics. I discuss how the concept of mobility applies not only to the joints and muscles but also the nerves, how understanding the anatomy of nerve
#34 - How a Yogi Conquered A Decade Long Battle with Low Back Pain (Krista's Story)
Have you ever experienced chronic pain? Maybe you've seen every practitioner and doctor and even tried surgery to resolve your pain, but years later you are still struggling? This is the story of Dojo member and yoga therapist, Krista Quinn.
Over 10 years ago, Krista found us on instagram after battling a decade long of low back pain. A laminectomy at age 22 initially provided relief for
#33 - A Fighting Chance - Jason's Battle With Cancer
What would you do if you were facing a terminal diagnosis? Do you give up or do you fight? This is the reality for Dojo Member, Jason Gallman. Over a year ago Jason came to us after having a history of beating cancer and surviving a spinal stroke. He discovered some mobility drills that helped him exercise without low back pain and improved some sensation in his feet. Just a couple m
#32 - Building Your Neuro Toolset
In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about building your very own neuro toolset. I go over the main categories that I consider essential to my work in applied neurology, and what the top tools are that you can get to help you with your coaching, your training, and with tackling pain and mobility issues. I discuss tools for general training, sensory stimulat
#31 - Alisha's Story
We are very excited to introduce the other half of Kruse Elite, Alisha Kruse, to the podcast! In this episode, Alisha speaks with our podcast producer, Tony, about her health and fitness journey, from playing soccer in college and suffering the severe side effects of a concussion, to becoming a personal trainer, studying various modalities including acupuncture and applied neurology
#30 - Threat Where You Least Expect It
What if your chronic neck pain isn't a problem with your neck at all? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about unexpected sources of threat that could sneakily be causing your pain and mobility issues. I talk about a variety of factors like life stress, traumatic events, marathons, calorie deficits, intense training, visual impairmen
#29 - What's Next for KRUSE ELITE?
In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about the challenges and triumphs of 2024 for Kruse Elite and for myself personally. I talk about what it was like launching the podcast from scratch, my evolving approach to social media, how we grew our audience on YouTube from zero to thousands of subscribers, and why we are focusing more on long-form content and edu
#28 - How To Recover From Injury As Fast As Possible
What if you could reduce pain from an injury with a single set of exercise? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about using applied neurology to supercharge recovery from an injury. I discuss my recent MCL sprain, and the tools and approaches I used to take what I thought was a 6 month injury to almost completely recovered in 2 weeks. 
#27 - Secrets to Improving Performance and Athletics
Want to learn what even professional athletes don't know about training optimally? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about using applied neurology to level up your performance and unlock your inner athlete. I outline some of my favorite training protocols that I use with athletes when they need to gain a competitive edge, not only giving
#26 - Your History Is Your Secret Weapon, Pt 2
Want to hear what the process of taking a history is really like? In Part 2 of this episode about training histories, I take a history of my podcast producer, Tony, on-air so you can listen in and follow along. While taking Tony's history, I explain my thought process and reasoning, zero in on some clues that might tell me more about what is going on with Tony's
#25 - Your History Is Your Secret Weapon
Does your doctor or trainer know your training, health and injury history? Do you? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about the process of taking a personal history and why it's so fundamental to our applied neurology approach for eliminating pain and dysfunction. I walk you through the process I go through
#24 - Learning Applied Neurology as a Chiropractor with Dr. Shaun Puro
Have you ever been in a position where you felt responsible for helping someone in pain and yet you didn't feel confident in your tools or your process?
Today, I speak with one of our members and Neuro Dojo students, Dr. Shaun Puro about his journey integrating applied neurology into his chiropractic practice. We discuss the tools he used as a chiropractor and the in
#23 - Change Your Brain to ELIMINATE Pain
Have you tried everything but you're still in pain? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about the concept of neuroplasticity and why it's so fundamental to our applied neurology approach for eliminating pain and dysfunction. I discuss how it's possible to change the function and structure of your brain through trai
#22 - Easy Neuroscience to LEVEL UP Your Training
What are some simple ways to incorporate neuroscience into your training? In this episode, I speak with my trusty podcast producer, Tony, about some of the simplest and highest payoff neuroscience-based exercises and techniques to improve your performance and quality of life. I discuss the concept of 'clarifying the map' and how drills that target the different
#21 - The Neuroscience of Massage Therapy
Why does chiropractic, massage therapy, or foam rolling work for some people and not others? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about therapeutic interventions and what is actually happening from a neurological perspective when someone gets a massage or goes to see a chiropractor. I talk about how manual techniques work at th
#20 - The Neurology of Posture with Matt Bush
Do you have concerns about rounded shoulders, anterior pelvic tilt, a droopy shoulder or maybe even scoliosis? Or, maybe you have a chronically stiff neck, tight shoulders, and painful low back and you know your posture needs some work.
In today's episode, I speak with one of my very first instructors of applied neurology, Matt Bush, about posture and t
#19 - How to Overcome Chronic Plantar Fasciitis - Karen's Story
Have you ever dealt with managing chronic pain? Perhaps you've made progress, only to find yourself back in the pain cycle.
In this week's episode, I interview Karen Short, one of our own Strength & Mobility Dojo members, to delve into her journey of overcoming chronic plantar fasciitis.
Karen and I discuss:
The initial strategies she employed to tackle her foot pain and how these e
#18 - The Neuroscience of Yoga and Bodybuilding
What do yoga and bodybuilding have in common? In this episode, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about how you can apply a neuroscience based filter to pretty much any fitness or movement practice to better understand and assess its effectiveness. I talk specifically about yoga and bodybuilding and how they interact with different systems in the brain
#17 - The Neural Hierarchy Pt 3: The Proprioceptive System
What if an old scar is causing your brain to erroneously map where your body is in space? In Part 3 of a series on the neural hierarchy, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the proprioceptive system and how our sense of where our body is in space lives not in the body, but rather in the brain. I discuss why the proprioceptive system is closely relate
#16 - The Neural Hierarchy Pt 2: The Vestibular System
What if your tight calves are actually caused by a deficiency in how your brain perceives balance? In Part 2 of a series on the neural hierarchy, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, all about the often overlooked vestibular system and how it is integrally related to balance, posture, respiration, blood pressure, and potentially, pain and performance. I d
#15 - The Neural Hierarchy Pt 1: The Visual System
The neural hierarchy is a powerful explanatory framework for how our brain relies on sensory information when we are active, but what if the vast majority of the movement and fitness industry only focuses on the least important sensory system? Today, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about the neural hierarchy. I outline what the three sensory systems
#14 - How Lila Restored Her Period, Decreased Chronic Pain and Improved Her Performance as a Professional Athlete
Have you ever managed chronic pain? Or, maybe you've struggled to come back from an injury. Maybe you've had issues with your menstrual cycle as an athlete and need some tips on how to better care for your body. All of this and more is the reality of professional athlete, Lila Lapanja. If you're interested in learning how a Professional Alpine Ski Racer has walked through this journey and
#13 - Problems with Self-Assessment
The immediate feedback self-assessment process is a powerful tool, but what do you do if you're getting negative or confusing results? Today, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about common problems that can occur during the self-assessment process and how to know when you need to make some changes. I discuss the importance of body
#12 - The Science of Pain (How It Works and Factors that Contribute to Your Pain Experience)
Understanding how pain works and where it comes from is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle when it comes to solving your own pain issues. Pain can be very frightening for people because they generally associate pain with damage, but this is not necessarily true. Today, my goal is to introduce you to pain science to help you learn about what pain is, where it comes from, and wh
#11 - Applying Interventions for Pain and Mobility
When you have pain or mobility issues, many will offer advice on what you should do, whether it's stretching, foam rolling, certain exercises or even surgery. Today, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about how I think about applying interventions to relieve pain and get your body moving properly. I discuss what happens when you apply a stimu
#10 - How Alissa Manages MS and Continues to Get Stronger and Healthier
Have you ever managed an autoimmune disorder or do you know someone who does? Engaging in fitness while managing something like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has it's ups and downs. The goal for this episode is to share some insight into how to navigate your symptoms so you can continue to live an active, healthy lifestyle.
In this episode, I interview one of our very own Strength & M
#9 - Why You Need Minimalist Shoes
Have you ever wondered - what exactly is a minimalist shoe? Or, maybe you haven't heard of them but you need some strategies for improving your foot health. Today, I share my first introduction to minimalist shoes, how to ease into barefoot-style shoes and why it's so important to get your feet a pair of "ninja booties." I discuss some of the key features to look for in a minimalist shoe,
#8 - You Need To Keep Moving
The hardest people for me to help are the ones that aren't moving on a regular basis. Today, I speak with my podcast producer, Tony, about why inactivity leads to all sorts of other problems downstream and why it's so important to maintain a regular movement practice. I discuss some of the main causes of inactivity, from pain and injury to sedentary lifestyles, and dig into some core conc
#7 - How Shaun Moved Out of Chronic Pain and Took Back Control of His Life
Have you ever managed chronic pain? And, maybe you wake up wondering what's going to hurt next, maybe it's your knee or your hip and then it's your shoulder. If you've ever dealt with pain and have spent endless hours searching for resolutions, this episode is for you.
In this episode, I interview one of our very own Strength & Mobility Dojo members, Dr. Shaun Puro. Shaun a
#6 - All About Breathing
How often do you think about breathing? Breathing is something we do all day, every day, 24/7, and yet many of us have some form of dysfunctional breathing. Today, I talk with my podcast producer, Tony, about how I learned that breathing dysfunction is often linked to pain and other seemingly unrelated problems, and that fixing your breathing is one of my go to solutions for difficult to
# 5 - How I got into Brain-Based Fitness
Have you ever wondered how a young athlete becomes a trainer, coach, and educator? Or just how someone might get into brain-based fitness in general? Today, I’m going to talk with my podcast producer, Tony, about how I got started from a young age in fitness, and how my training and understanding evolved into the neuro-muscular approach that I use today. I go over my first experiences in
#4 - It's all about BALANCE
Is your workout routine leaving you tired, sore, and stressed all the time? Or, on the other hand, do you feel like you never seem to make much progress despite sticking to a program you like? Is there something that you know you’re “supposed to do” in your routine but that you always skip? Today, I’m going to talk about balance in training, what it looks like and why it is so important t
# 3 - I injured myself with stretching
In this episode of the Kruse Elite Podcast, I share a brief story about how I injured my hamstring with stretching. I explain how using a "seek and destroy" mentality and chasing tightness with repetitive stretching is a bad idea. I introduce some simple solutions that are much more effective tools for when you have that stubborn chronic tension that just wont go away. And, how you can ac
#2 - The #1 Exercise You Are NOT Practicing for Low Back Tension, Hip & Shoulder Mobility
In this episode I'll teach you my #1 exercise for eliminating low back tension, improving total body mobility and more! I even take you through an assessment process so that you can understand how your body is responding to the exercise. I hope you enjoy this episode and, if you do, please leave a review on iTunes.Back Lying Diaphragm Stretch Video
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#1 - The Threat Bucket & How to Assess Your Body’s Response to Exercise
In this episode of the Kruse Elite podcast, I introduce you to my favorite educational tool called the Threat Bucket and guide you through a simple 3 step assessment process that you can use to understand your body's response to any exercise. This is the exact process that I used to get myself out of chronic pain and it's the process that I use with all of our clients and members to help
