The Next Level

It's not about who wins. It's about who they remember. Each team is unique. Each team is independent of other teams. Each team experience is different.

The Next Level has often been called "the missing course" from most college majors which involve physique development. Hands-on, peer-centered, and user-controlled, rarely has there been such a successful and ambitious program assembled, merging academic methods of learning with practical "real-life" experiences. The Next Level assembles accomplished physique and strength athletes onto functional

teams of between 5 and 10 athletes, organizing them into peer-led, peer-learning structures focused on all possible aspects of Physique Sports - bodybuilding, powerlifting, "Strongman," and Olympic-style lifting. No two "runs" of the Next Level have ever been the same. Teams meet regularly, and are presented each meet with a new concept. As a team, they work through concepts in order to gain information, develop unique methods, and understand the "practical applications" of their work. All athletes on Next level teams compete in physique sports events, accompanied and assisted (and typically competing along with) their team mates and coaches. Competition is used NOT as the end-goal - this is not "competition school." Competition is used to frame a structure for learning, and setting a demanding bar for the excellence of performance. In this process, athletes are exposed to topics which range from the typical, such as diet concepts, training theory and sports prep, on through topics like cultural impact, historical relevance, social and media influences, and psychological importance. Throughout the process is a heightened sense of personal attention and awareness. Many athletes evan have remarkably transformative experiences by the time the fully complete their program. Team members are often competitive athletes, personal trainers, post-graduates in the fitness academics, and of course experienced physique sports competitors. However, sometimes teammates are merely individuals with remarkable aptitude who have shown a diligent loyalty to their sports craft. The Next Level is the premier program in The PhysiQademy, an initiative to create learning environments for more meaningful, practical approaches to physique development and the personal betterment concerns that are related.

TBI-115 The Most Normal Story You Ever Heard About Mack Beggs And Muscles

04/25/2019

When you lift, you change your body’s shape, right?

Well, that’s also may be how we create gender.

The Big Inside host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” tackles the fascinating topic of how changing our shape creates – and sometimes conflicts – with how society understands our gender.

We’re joined by self-proclaimed “regular guy,” collegiate wrestler Mack Beggs, as well as professors Kareem Kubchandani and Stephan Pennington to discuss how changing our body’s shape to perform gender is maybe one of the most normal aspects of just being human.

Plus, one of the coolest Little Insider segments at the end of the show. (CAT JACKET!) All this and more on this very masculine episode of The Big Inside.

TBI-115 The Most Normal Story You Ever Heard About Mack Beggs And Muscles When you lift, you change your body’s shape, right? Well, that’s also how we create gender. We talk about it with collegiate wrestler Mack Beggs and professors Kareem Kubchandani and Stephan Pennington.

TBI-114 Arguing With the Breakfast Sheep Over What Is Really Important

03/05/2019

What is the most important meal of the day? The Big Inside’s show host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is betting he knows what you’re gonna say. What you’re probably not expecting is how what we think we know about breakfast may not be quite what we assumed. XN dives into the background of this nostalgic meal armed with a pack of nutrition-savvy athletes and the amazing food historian and author Heather Arndt Anderson. What we pull up might make you forget about whether or not breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but instead wonder why you thought that in the first place.

TBI-114 Arguing With the Breakfast Sheep Over What Is Really Important Show host Christian Matyi, aka "XN," versus “the most important meal of the day.” We’re tearing apart breakfast with food historian Heather Arndt Anderson and a pack of athletes who know a lot about nutrition.

TBI-113 Doing the same thing over and over and over with violas and Drew Ricciardi

01/30/2019

What are you doing right now?
Like LITERALLY right now? And are you sure you’re doing it right?

The Big Inside’s host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is joined by professional Classical music viola player Drew Ricciardi, who’s journey brought him from the high stakes world of professional music into some interesting theories on how you’re moving your body. Or not moving.

Plus: a couple detours into history and housebuilding.

TBI-113 Doing the same thing over and over and over with violas and Drew Ricciardi The Big Inside’s host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” talks with professional viola player Drew Ricciardi, who uncovers a fascinating way to look at how your body moves, and says a bunch of complicated words.

TBI-112 The Dog's Name Is Crom. The Director's name is Liam O'Donnell, Part 2 of 2

12/18/2018

Just how much does your personal aesthetic – the way you look to others – impact what you create?

In the second of a two-part episode of the podcast, The Big Inside, show host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is joined again by very special guest Liam O’Donnell, director, writer, and producer of 2017’s sci-fi flick “Beyond Skyline.” They unpack how, whether we know it or not, aesthetics are constantly reshaping how we represent ourselves in the world.

Please help the show out by subscribing on Spotify, iTunes, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave a review, and please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/TheBigInside.

TBI-112 The Dog's Name Is Crom. The Director's name is Liam O'Donnell, Part 2 of 2 The second of a two-part episode featuring movie director of Liam O’Donnell of 2017’s sci-fi flick “Beyond Skyline” looks at how personal aesthetics shape our perception.

TBI-111 Keeping Our Good Eye On The Alien Invasion with Liam O'Donnell – Part 1 of 2

12/04/2018

From the podcast inspired by The Next Level, here's The Big Inside's latest episode:

We’re back for our tenth (we think) season! And we are opening this run of episodes with a very special guest: Liam O’Donnell, movie director, producer and writer most known for the 2017 sci fi action flick, “Beyond Skyline.”

Liam gave show host Christian Matyi (a/k/a “XN”) a whole lot of interview. So much, in fact, that we are going to present our stories with Liam in two parts. This episode is the first of two parts.

Liam shares a fascinating backstory that may shift how we perceive the power of physical aesthetics. And yes, Schwarzenegger makes an appearance in the narrative. (Because he always does, right?) The tale is a little different than you might think, and sets a stage for how he perceives the world, which sets us up to learn more about the film itself in part 2.

Be sure to leave us feedback on this episode, and please go to our Patreon page and subscribe to the show at Patreon.com/thebiginside.

TBI-111 Keeping Our Good Eye On The Alien Invasion with Liam O'Donnell – Part 1 of 2 The first of a two-part episode featuring the Schwarzneggerian backstory of Liam O’Donnell, movie director, producer, and writer of 2017’s sci-fi flick “Beyond Skyline”.

TBI-110 Shoveling Snow On New Year's with French Industrialists and 974 Calories

01/05/2018

What do you REALLY know about calories?
On this week’s episode of The Big Inside, Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” gives you a (slightly sentimental) spin through the history of a common dietary term, and how it may just shift your perspective at the start of 2018.

TBI-110 Shoveling Snow On New Year's with French Industrialists and 974 Calories Happy 2018! We pick up a snow shovel, meet a French physicist from 200 years ago, and offer you a (slightly sentimental) twist on the calories you’ll use in the new year ahead.

TBI-109 Getting Totally Sold On Winning During Baby Invasions

12/11/2017

Is the chase for prestige ruining competitive sport at the amateur level? Why are we so driven to win – and are the costs worth it?

The new season of The Big Inside is back, and show host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” has pulled together an amazing group of athletes to toss around whether chasing winning is a positive motivator, or competitive poison.

Also: we totally get invaded by a baby, and XN is hearing voices . . . All that and more as season SIX (gasp!) of The Big Inside launches!

TBI-109 Getting Totally Sold On Winning During Baby Invasions The new season of the show gathers a cast of thousands! (Well, maybe less than that.) We're trying to figure out why we get so obsessed with winning stuff. Plus: RANDOM BABY!

The bodybuilders who refuse to call themselves bodybuilders.

09/19/2017

Men's Physique is a pointless exercise when it comes to drug-tested competitions. And it may not only be a pointless pursuit, but also highly destructive.

While more and more "insta-fame"-lusting men flock to this bastard pageant, the sport from which it emerged – bodybuilding itself – is meanwhile being deteriorated. Cause for alarm among competitors? Coach XN thinks so . . . and here's his Mr. Miyagi version of wisdom for y'all.

The bodybuilders who refuse to call themselves bodybuilders. Men's physique may be the worst thing to happen to bodybuilding. But drug-tested competitors are actually working against their own benefit most of all!

09/11/2017

Coach has often said: "The best teachers are not those who strive to be better then those they mentor."
Well, looks like once again he has been better to buy one of his own alumni, as shows up with a stringer beard game than XN, when they ran into each other at a recent competition.
Beards are not officially part of , but maybe they should be.

@ Lexington High School (Massachusetts)