Main fiction: “Golf to the Death” by Alex Shvartsman Alex Shvartsman (Brooklyn, NY) is the author of Kakistocracy (2023), The Middling Affliction (2022), and Eridani’s Crown (2019) fantasy novels. Over 120 of his stories have appeared in Analog, Nature, Strange Horizons, et al. He won the WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction and was a three-tim…

Main fiction: “A Final Song for the Ages” by Pedro Iniguez Pedro Iniguez is a Mexican-American Bram Stoker, Elgin, and Rhysling Award-nominated horror and science-fiction writer from Los Angeles, California. He is the author of Mexicans on the Moon: Speculative Poetry from a Possible Future, and Fever Dreams of a Parasite, among others. Forthcoming…

Main fiction: “Any Day But Today…” by Maggie Slater Maggie Slater’s (she/her) speculative fiction has appeared in Apex Magazine, Metaphorosis, and Redivider, among other venues. She lives in an 1800s farmhouse in New England with two half-tamed boys, one half-trained dog, her husband, her parents, and at least one benign ghost. For more information…

Main fiction: “Bitrunners” by Tina Connolly Tina Connolly writes fantastical stories for kids, teens, and grown-ups. Some of them are serious and some of them involve flying bananas. Her books include the Ironskin and Seriously Wicked series, the collection On the Eyeball Floor, and the official Choose Your Own Adventure book Glitterpony Farm. She …

Main fiction: “Solar-Powered Buddies” by Akis Linardos Akis Linardos is a writer of bizarre things, a biomedical AI scientist, and maybe human. He’s also a Greek that hops across countries as his career and exploration urges demand. Find his words at Apex, Strange Horizons, Uncharted, Heartlines Spec, and visit his lair for more: https://linktr.ee/…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan is joined by coach, educator, bodybuilder, and gym owner Aaron Straker to talk about the reality of building muscle. You'll learn how much muscle to can realistically expect to gain (without PEDs), how social media skews many people's expectations of what's achievable, and what to look out for if you're t…

Main fiction: “Cyclic Amplification, Meaning Family” by Bogi Takács Bogi’s bios can be found scattered all over the internet. In the spirit of cooperation demonstrated in the story, Bogi would like to ask you to take a few moments to engage in a tangible act of solidarity with people experiencing state violence and/or oppression: Palestinians, Ukra…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan is joined by Tara Nicole to talk about her pregnancy journey, the challenges that come with it, and the changes she's made food and fitness-wise to support a healthy pregnancy. You'll learn how she began prepping her body way ahead of time, about the mindset shifts she's experienced these past months, the…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan helps you reflect on Q1 and set the tone for Q2 of 2025. You'll learn about OCS's 12-week course and group coaching program, THE ODYSSEY, and how this may just be your sign to make a change for good, finally. Johan discusses the issue with most diets, meal plans, and fat loss programs/challenges, and that…

In this episode, Johan is joined by Allie Saez to dive into gut health. You'll learn how stress impacts digestion, about common symptoms to look out for, how nutrition and lifestyle change can help improve digestion and heal your gut, the 5R gut protocol, food sensitivities, why it's always better to reach out to an expert for help, rather than fol…

Main Fiction: “Overclocked Holmes” by Sarah Day & Tim Pratt Sarah Day writes horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Her debut dark fantasy novella Greyhowler is available from Underland Press (https://books2read.com/b/greyhowler). Find her on Bluesky (@sarahday.org) or subscribe to her newsletter (https://buttondown.com/sarahday). Tim Pratt is the a…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan discusses the common misconceptions around metabolism, particularly the belief that it slows down with age. You'll learn how lifestyle factors, such as muscle mass and dietary habits, play a key role in metabolic health, about the importance of not dieting year-round, the benefits of building muscle, and …

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan is joined by Ronja Jacobsson to talk about her journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). You'll learn about common misconceptions about MS and the challenges of this central nervous system autoimmune condition, how Ronja is still able to keep her mindset, health, and fitness in a great place, and how you can …

Main fiction: “The Ganymede Blues” by e rathke e rathke writes about books and games at radicaledward.substack.com. A finalist for the Baen Fantasy Adventure Award and recipient of the Diverse Worlds Grant, he is the author of Glossolalia, Howl, and the space opera series The Shattered Stars. His short fiction appears in Mysterion Magazine, Cosmic …

In this episode, Johan discusses the upcoming Momentum March Challenge, emphasizing the importance of focusing on doing the work (which is within your control) rather than the outcome (what's outside of your control). You'll learn why it's so key to work on building sustainable habits, the reality of long-term fat loss and maintenance, and what's w…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan is joined by Greg Sutton to address a big online discussion around 'blood sugar spiking' foods, and whether meticulously trying to manage your blood sugars is worth your time and effort. You'll learn about the common misconceptions around sugar, why metabolic health is an important factor when it comes to…

Main fiction: “The Whispering Flowers” by Guido Eekhaut Guido Eekhaut is a European writer of weird, speculative fiction, crime and literary fantasy, residing in Spain and Belgium; Dutch-, English and French-speaking, published 70 books and 180 stories in several languages, awards and nominations mostly for crime writing, no cat (likes cats, does n…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan discusses the structure of the 'The Odyssey' course and group coaching program and his clients' progress during the first 6 weeks of 2025. You'll learn about the exact steps to follow at the start of your journey, and how you can make a change today if you've been struggling to lose fat or build muscle so…

Main fiction: “The Outer Body” by Eris Young Eris Young is a transgender writer of speculative fiction. Their work has appeared in publications including Escape Pod, GigaNotoSaurus, Small Wonders, and the Immigrant Sci-Fi Short Stories anthology from Flame Tree Press. Their novel-in-progress, Idomeneja, was longlisted for the Cheshire Novel Prize. …

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan is joined by Tim Rudi Veiteberg to explore mindset and personal development. Tim shares his personal challenges and life lessons, how this ultimately led to finding his passion for helping others, and how you can control your thoughts to overcome any obstacle. You'll learn about the growth mindset, mindfu…

Do you HAVE to track your food in an app like Cronometer, or can you get results by simply following your natural hunger and satiety cues? In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan discusses the debate between tracking macros and intuitive eating, the importance of tracking as a tool to reach your goals, and how intuitive eating can a great appro…

Main fiction: “The Şehrazatın Diyoraması Tour” Selena Chambers is the author of Babes in Toyland’s Fontanelle for Bloomsbury Academic’s 33 1/3 series, and the Weird short story collection Calls for Submission from Pelekinesis. Her writing has been translated in five countries, as well as published in the U.K. and Australia. Nominations include: the…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan shares the exact changes he's made to lose about 0.5kg per week so far in 2025, the basics of nutrition for effective fat loss, and how nutrition is nuanced and should be individualized. If you're currently after a fat loss goal, this episode will give you a good idea of the main things to focus on. Howev…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, you'll learn a sustainable and effective, year-long approach to fat loss, muscle gain, and maintaining results. If you’ve ever felt stuck, having to repeatedly restart the same New Year's Resolution without seeing lasting change - and you finally want to make 2025 the year you DO reach your goals and maintain y…

Main fiction: “When Dessa Danced” Donyae Coles is the author of Midnight Rooms, has a variety of puffy princess dresses and one cat but she wants more of both. She has traveled the world four times over and may do so again. Her short work has been published in a variety of horror and other speculative fiction anthologies and magazines such as Night…

Social media is full of flashy ‘holiday hacks’, ‘low calorie’ or ‘healthier’ versions of your favorite thanksgiving/xmas foods, and tactics to ‘avoid’ holiday weight gain. That’s not to say you shouldn’t try new things either. By any means, if this time of the year is a tricky one for you, go for it! But, real talk; shouldn’t we be working on inclu…

Main fiction: “You Can Never Stock Up Enough Fans” by Antony Paschos Antony Paschos is a Greek author with short stories in Interzone, Galaxy’s Edge, ZNB Presents, Giganotosaurus, James Gunn’s Ad Astra, and other magazines. He has published three books in Greek and one in French. His work has been translated into four more languages. He is a member…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, you'll learn how to navigate special scenarios like holidays, vacations, and other social events, the exact framework we teach our clients in The Odyssey (click to learn more), and how to keep a flexible mindset around nutrition and fitness. It's not about avoiding social settings, or finding the next 'hack' to…

In this replay of guest episode (#45) of Talking Nutrition, Johan and Kristine are joined by Sam Miller - functional health coach and mentor, creator of Metabolism School, and author of Metabolism Made Simple. You'll learn how the metabolism works, the truth about a slow/fast metabolism, how stress and lifestyle factors affect the metabolism, the '…

In this episode of Talk Nutrition, Johan discusses the importance of planning ahead for a busy week, emphasizing that failing to plan means planning to fail. You'll learn why creating systems and routines to manage time effectively is key - especially if your schedule is PACKED - and how to check in with yourself on a weekly to practice self-reflec…

Main fiction: “Not Responsible! Park and Lock It!” by John Kessel Born in Buffalo, NY, novelist and story writer John Kessel is emeritus professor of literature and creative writing at North Carolina State University, where he taught courses on literature and creative writing and helped found the MFA program in creative writing. His fiction has rec…

'THE ODYSSEY' 12-week course and group coaching program is finally here! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hTyC2N In this episode, Johan and Linn answer five questions related to fat loss, key habits for fat loss phases, calories and macros, cardio and weight training, their own nutrition and goals, and more. Want to submit a question for a future Q&A ep…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan breaks down the foundation of all things nutrition for you: what's on your plate. You'll learn about The Odyssey Way of healthy eating, how to build meals, how often to eat daily, the truth about processed foods, the importance of moderation, and more. To get the most out of this episode and get the actua…

'THE ODYSSEY' 12-week course and group coaching program is finally here! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hTyC2N In this episode of Talking Nutrition, we sit down with OCS clients Samantha and Eirik to explore their inspiring journeys from being stuck with their health and fitness, to losing 10-15kg (22-33lbs) and keeping it off long-term. They share th…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan is joined by Greg Sutton from Evolve to Excel to discuss the Stages of Change, and how lasting behavior change doesn't just come down to 'taking action'. You'll learn about the 5 different stages - pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance - and how understanding this theory g…

Main fiction: “Spintered/Splintering” by Rhiannon Rasmussen Rhiannon Rasmussen is an author and illustrator of dark speculative works, not all of which involve exoskeletons. Rhiannon’s fiction has appeared in venues including Lightspeed Magazine, Diabolical Plots, and as Magic: the Gathering official web shorts. Visit rhiannonrs.com or @charibdys o…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan shares his personal 30kg weight loss journey that transformed his body, health, and mindset. This ultimately led to the creation of Odyssey Coaching Systems and the soon-available 12-week nutrition and self-development course and group coaching program, 'The Odyssey.' You'll learn about the mistakes he fi…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan is joined by Mike Kesthely. Mike is a firefighter paramedic and a functional health, performance, and nutrition coach. You'll learn about the challenges of shift work, the effects on health, circadian rhythm, and longevity, and how to optimize your health while working irregular hours. Mike and Johan also…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan shares a detailed update on his personal fitness goals and results over the past 12 months. You'll learn the exact steps taken throughout fat loss, reverse diet, maintenance, and muscle gain phases, how Johan lost fat and gained muscle (even during his cut), training splits, the importance of tracking mac…

Main fiction: “Quirks” by Marie Vibbert Hugo and Nebula nominated author Marie Vibbert’s short fiction has appeared in top magazines such as Nature, Analog, and Clarkesworld, and been translated into Czech, Chinese and Vietnamese. Her debut novel, Galactic Hellcats, was long listed by the British Science Fiction Award and her work has been called “…

In this episode, Johan Vesters discusses the concept of reverse dieting, emphasizing its importance in transitioning from a fat loss phase to maintenance. He explains the physiological changes that occur during dieting, the necessity of increasing caloric intake, and the psychological aspects of managing weight fluctuations. Johan advocates for tra…

In this Q&A episode, you get a look behind the scenes of a challenge we hosted inside of our online fitness community. In this challenge, participants got active, worked on their mindset, ate healthy, and submitted questions related to our topic-of-the-week live trainings. In this recording, you'll learn about all things MINDSET. Want to join us ne…

In this episode, Johan Vesters discusses the importance of preparing for the holiday season by building healthy habits and practicing moderation. He emphasizes that the holidays should not lead to significant weight gain and encourages listeners to focus on flexible dieting and periodization in their nutrition. With three months left in the year, J…

In this Q&A episode, you get a look behind the scenes of a challenge we hosted inside of our online fitness community. In this challenge, participants got active, worked on their mindset, ate healthy, and submitted questions related to our topic-of-the-week live trainings. In this recording, you'll learn about all things MINDSET. Want to join us ne…

Main fiction: “Harvest Rain” by Jay Caselberg Jay Caselberg is an Australian author and poet whose work has appeared in multiple venues worldwide and been translated into several languages. From time to time, it gets shortlisted for awards or appears in Year’s Best volumes. He currently resides in Germany. This story originally appeared in Interzon…

In this episode, Johan reflects on the importance of setting and reviewing personal goals, particularly as the year approaches its end. He emphasizes the need for honest self-assessment regarding progress and effort, encouraging listeners to celebrate their wins while also identifying areas for improvement. The conversation transitions into actiona…

In this Q&A episode, you get a look behind the scenes of a challenge we hosted inside of our online fitness community. In this challenge, participants got active, worked on their mindset, ate healthy, and submitted questions related to our topic-of-the-week live trainings. In this recording, you'll learn about all things TRAINING. Want to join us n…

In this episode of Talking Nutrition, Johan Vesters delves into the topic of fat loss, expanding on the principles discussed in the previous episode. He emphasizes the importance of intentionality in weight loss efforts and shares ten essential basics for achieving sustainable fat loss. The conversation covers the significance of understanding main…

In this Q&A episode, you get a look behind the scenes of a challenge we hosted inside of our online fitness community. In this challenge, participants got active, worked on their mindset, ate healthy, and submitted questions related to our topic-of-the-week live trainings. In this recording, you'll learn about all things TRAINING. Want to join us n…

Main fiction: “Movie Night” by Matthew Kressel Matthew Kressel’s many works of short fiction have or will soon appear in Asimov’s, Analog, Lightspeed, Clarkesworld, Tor.com/Reactor, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in many other publications and Year’s Best anthologies. His far-future novel Space Trucker Jess (Fairwood Press) is scheduled for late 2025…