What’s the real difference between training at a big national gym and a private studio? New trainer Brooke Passey joins Pete and Srdjan to unpack incentives, atmosphere, and coaching—and Srdjan drops news about his own bodybuilding prep.

Brooke shares what it’s like to move from a commercial gym to independent coaching: behind-the-scenes sales pressures, “numbers” targets, and sticky contract renewals that can matter more to corporate than member outcomes. In her words, trainers and clients can feel like metrics to “higher ups,” which is precisely what she left to build a client-first practice.

Pete and Srdjan map the real trade-offs: the buzz of a packed floor versus the calm and focus of a quieter, owner-curated space; a sea of machines versus a layout chosen for flow and function; scale versus community. Srdjan describes designing ELEV8 around relationships—members and coaches who actually become friends—and picking equipment intentionally rather than “just packing the place.”

Brooke’s philosophy centers mindset and daily habits as much as sets and reps, including how she gauges when a client is truly ready for change. Then Srdjan breaks news: he’s stepping on a bodybuilding stage next year, outlining a nine-month plan—bulk for muscle, then a tough cut with coaching support on nutrition—and yes, the final weeks may be “two months of misery” the show will follow.

Links & Notes

• Submit your questions to the show!

This week, we zoom in on the moment you decide to get help—how to choose a trainer (and a gym) that won’t waste your time or your joints. Srdjan contrasts the incentives inside big-box facilities—where volume and sales often dominate—with the owner-led standards, community, and results focus he’s seen in private gyms. The gist: when reputation’s on the line, care gets personal and outcomes matter.

From there, we get practical. What should a good consult sound like? Clear, specific explanations you can feel in your body—not canned answers you could Google. Srdjan also walks through how his own injuries shaped a post-rehab training style that prioritizes safer alternatives without sacrificing progress, and how that experience helps him quickly troubleshoot pain and modify movements.

Finally, the playbook: “shop your trainer.” Take multiple free sessions, compare approaches, and notice who supports you between workouts—texts about nutrition, label reads, and the kind of client-to-client encouragement that keeps you showing up. The goal is a relationship that’s personal, evidence-driven, and sustainable over years, not weeks.

Links & Notes

• Submit your questions to the show!

This week on Build for Health, Pete Wright sits down with trainer Srdjan Injac to take on one of the most misunderstood stages in any fitness journey: maintenance. Why do so many people hit their goals and immediately fall off the wagon? Is maintenance just an excuse for taking your foot off the gas, or is it a legitimate skill that deserves as much attention as any muscle-building or fat-loss phase?

Srdjan breaks it down: true maintenance isn’t about stagnation, but consolidation—a strategic period where you reinforce habits, solidify gains, and let both your body and mind adapt to a new normal. They discuss the dangers of “finish line” thinking, how quickly you can lose hard-won muscle and strength if you slack off, and why older adults may need to work even harder just to maintain progress. Pete shares his own struggle with “goal-centered motivation” and the mental hurdles that come when apps and challenges end, while Srdjan explains how building “mature muscle” early makes everything easier down the road.

Whether you’re coming back from a break, dealing with an injury, or just wondering how to stay in shape for the long haul, you’ll learn why a good maintenance plan isn’t just smart—it’s essential. Plus: the importance of building habits, the realities of muscle memory, and how to make the comfort zone work for you without letting comfort become complacency.

Links & Notes

• Learn more about ELEV8 Fitness Hillsboro
• Submit Your Questions for Srdjan

We treat recovery like flossing: we say we do it, but mostly we don’t. This week, Pete and Srdjan break down the myth of rest-as-recovery and walk us through what your body actually needs to come back stronger.

Srdjan lays out his full stack of recovery techniques—from the basics like sleep, hydration, and nutrition, to the heavy hitters like cold plunges, sauna sessions, cupping, deep tissue massage, compression therapy, and even red light therapy. The catch? None of them work if you’re inconsistent.

You’ll also hear:

• Why sleep is more important than your workout
• How to start cold therapy without crying (too much)
• The science behind pairing heat and cold for max benefit
• What those weird cupping bruises actually mean
• How athletes use compression to flush out waste products
• The post-workout nutrition stack that fuels real growth
• Why “active recovery” is more than just a buzzword

And if you’ve ever been tempted to “recover” by collapsing on the couch with a bag of fries, this episode might gently (or not-so-gently) nudge you in a better direction.

There is a moment—quiet, unassuming, easily missed—that defines everything that comes after. It’s not a personal record. It’s not a transformation photo. It’s not even the first workout. It’s the decision to begin. And what’s remarkable about that moment is not how grand it feels, but how small and personal it really is.

In this episode of Build for Health, Pete sits down with Srdjan to investigate the psychology of starting—from scratch, from injury, from the long slope of middle age. Together, they unravel why so many of us wait until something breaks before seeking change. Why we overthink our way out of action. Why our minds give up before our bodies even try. And why the first month of change might not involve a gym at all.

This isn’t a list of exercises or a motivational shout. It’s a quiet, thoughtful guide to reimagining your relationship with effort. You’ll hear why minimum effective dose matters more than maximum enthusiasm, why perfection is the enemy of consistency, and why building strength is less about pain and more about permission—permission to believe your body is still capable of remarkable things.

Because the truth is, your body has not betrayed you. It’s just been waiting for you to ask.

Every era has its elixirs. The ancients had tinctures of mercury. The Victorians had cocaine cough drops. We, the modern wellness wanderers, have supplements—powders and pills, scoops and sachets, promises wrapped in slick branding. But what happens when you start asking: does any of it actually do anything?

In this episode of Build for Health, Pete Wright and Srdjan Injac open the supplement cabinet. With the quiet intensity of a forensic scientist and the cheer of your favorite gym buddy, Srdjan walks us through what belongs in your shaker bottle and what belongs in the trash. Protein? Yes—but only the right kind. Creatine? Mandatory for everyone over 30, and no, that’s not hyperbole. Pre-workouts? Maybe. But let’s talk about the caffeine arms race.

And don’t even get him started on Gatorade.

What emerges is a surprising theory: that our approach to supplements isn’t about optimization—it’s about compensation. We’re patching holes in lifestyles that are increasingly brittle. But if we understand the science, the sourcing, and—most importantly—ourselves, we can make better choices. Or at least add a little watermelon-flavored saltwater before leg day.

So before you shake, scoop, or stir, press play.

Links & Notes

• LMNT Electrolyte Drink
• Thentic Nutrition (available on Amazon)

In Episode 2 of Build for Health, Pete Wright and ELEV8 Fitness founder Srdjan Injac take on the misunderstood superstar of the nutritional world: protein.

Following last week’s case for muscle as medicine, this episode gets into what fuels that muscle. Spoiler: It’s not just about eating more protein—it’s about eating the right kind, in the right amounts, at the right times.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why protein is essential for far more than muscle growth—think brain health, hormone balance, and immune support.
• The difference between complete vs incomplete proteins, and why animal sources tend to be more efficient.
• Why most people dramatically undereat protein, and how to actually hit your daily target.
• How protein affects metabolism, insulin sensitivity, satiety, and body composition.
• The myth of “too much protein turns to fat,” busted.
• The importance of morning and nighttime protein intake—and why breakfast may be your most important meal of the day.
• Srdjan’s real-world advice for meal prep, portion tracking, and sustainable eating habits.

You’ll also hear about:

• Protein turnover and why the body uses 250–300g daily (even if you’re not eating that much)
• Tools for tracking your intake without obsessing
• What plant-based eaters need to know to build strength effectively
• Why protein bars and shakes should be supplements—not your main course

Whether you’re struggling to get your protein in or just want to understand what all the macros hype is about, this episode will give you the knowledge (and motivation) to make smarter choices that support your long-term health.

Welcome to Build for Health, where we flip the script on what strength really means. Hosts Pete Wright and coach Srdjan Injac invite you to leave the “get shredded fast” mindset at the door and discover how building muscle is the ultimate investment in your long-term health, sharp mind, and resilient life.

In this debut episode, Srdjan busts fitness myths, explains why muscle is your metabolic secret weapon, and shares real talk about the discipline, science, and everyday choices that make lasting change possible—no matter your age or starting point. Expect honest stories, surprising science (did you know “skinny fat” is a real thing?), and practical advice that doesn’t require giving up cupcakes forever. Plus, learn why your doctor probably isn’t talking to you about muscle—and why that needs to change.

Subscribe, send in your questions, and join a community that’s building real strength for the long haul.