On Muscle with Bonnie Tsui

What does it really mean to be strong? Is strength simply a measure of physical power, or is there something deeper connecting our muscles to our identity, resilience, and the way we experience the world?

On this episode of Swell Season Surf Radio, host Tyler Breuer welcomes back acclaimed author, journalist, and fellow surfer Bonnie Tsui to discuss her latest book, On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters.Recorded at Rockefeller Center, the conversation begins with a trip down memory lane to their shared days at Blue Magazine before diving into Bonnie's fascinating exploration of muscle—part science, part cultural history, and part personal journey.

From the surprising science of muscle memory and the relationship between strength and longevity to the cultural expectations surrounding gender, beauty, and athletic performance, Bonnie challenges us to reconsider what our muscles do for us and what they reveal about who we are.

Along the way, they explore Eastern and Western philosophies of strength, the remarkable connection between muscle and brain health, adaptive yoga, aging, and the evolving conversation around fairness and inclusion in sports.It's a thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion about the bodies we inhabit, the limits we place on them, and the extraordinary ways they adapt.Because muscle isn't just about how much we can lift. It's about what moves us.

Follow Bonnie on his instagram: @bonnietsui8

You can Purchase his new book, “On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why it Matters” here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bonnie-tsui/on-muscle/9781643753089/ 

The Swell Season Surf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. 

For more information, you can follow @swellseasonsurfradio on Instagram or go to our website: www.swellseasonsurf.com 

Music:
Artist: Sia
Song: Unstoppable
Album: This Is Acting

00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:34 Bonnie Returns
04:56 Blue Magazine Memories
07:56 Injury and Comeback
09:24 Muscle Memory Science
13:03 Family and Roots
18:10 Guangzhou Detour
21:06 East West Strength
27:01 Rest and Recovery
31:04 Reporting the Stories
34:14 Oslo Atrophy Lab
37:28 Jan Todd Strongwoman
39:24 Jan Todd Legacy
41:06 Funding Women Sports
42:51 Surfing Pipeline Gap
45:01 Technique Versus Strength
48:13 Rethinking Sport Categories
49:43 Trans Athletes Nuance
57:50 Adaptive Yoga Insights
01:05:00 Aging Muscle Resilience
01:11:47 Surfers Questionnaire
01:16:25 Peru Chicama Dream
01:18:50 Book Plugs Farewell

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