Episode 5 · Apr 5, 2026 · A Healthy Conversation
with Evan Amell · Owner, EA Fitness & Performance
About this episode
Evan Amell is the owner of EA Fitness & Performance in Portland, Maine, where he coaches clients of all ages and abilities, with a particular gift for working with adults over forty who want to rebuild strength and confidence. His background spans kinesiology, nutrition coaching, psychology, and motivational interviewing, and he brings all of it to a simple conviction: the hardest part of getting fit is walking through the door. He talks candidly about his own early insecurity in the gym and how that shaped the welcoming, non-judgmental community he has built.
Co-host Dr. Jeff Barkin, a practicing psychiatrist focused on preventive and individualized care, shares his own story of unexpected weight loss that turned out to stem from a workout that was heavy on cardio and light on strength training. The conversation unpacks why muscle and bone matter more as we age, how recovery and training volume shift over the decades, and why strength work is, as Evan puts it, the fountain of youth for preserving mobility, balance, and independence.
Together they explore the growing overlap between fitness and medicine. They discuss creatine and the importance of pairing GLP-1 medications with strength training to protect muscle mass, and they consider how regular exercise supports not only the heart but the brain. The through line is personal responsibility and prevention: adequate sleep, whole foods, age-appropriate movement, mental stimulation, and social connection working together to keep people healthy for the long game.
Mentioned in this episode
More from EA Fitness & Performance
From this episode
“I tell people strength training is the fountain of youth. Making sure your bones are strong, that your muscles are strong, and improving balance, that's another big thing to prevent those falls. Because, you know, you and I both can agree that prevention is the best medicine, not waiting for damage control.”
“A lot of times people overestimate what they can do in a short period of time, but they severely underestimate what they can accomplish in a long-term game.”