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August 25, 2025 112 mins

How do Marvel actors get their superhero bodies? The trainer for Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) reveals the industry secrets to actor transformations, steroid use in Hollywood, and the shocking truth behind Paul Rudd’s all-natural physique.


On this episode of the Becoming The 1% Podcast, Brendan Johnston details the training, diet, and mental discipline required to build the physiques for Hollywood's biggest roles. He breaks down the real timeline it takes to achieve these results, the non-negotiable habits that separate the elite from the average, and how you can apply these principles. Discover the mindset needed to overcome genetics, the pressure actors face to maintain their roles, and the training that gets them ready for their iconic shirtless scenes.


Follow Brendan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brendanjpt/


Chapters:

0:00 Becoming The Official Trainer For Marvel 

1:28 My Journey To Training Hollywood Stars

2:55 Training Scarlett Johansson 

4:19 Starstruck By The Avengers? 

5:24 How Long It Took To Become Marvel's Official Trainer 

6:14 Why I Had No Social Media For Years 

7:16 The Real Reason Actors Trust Me 

8:51 Famous Trainer vs. Trainer Of Famous People 

12:15 A Carpenter Is Only As Good As His Tools 

14:20 How Actors Train While Filming On Set 

15:52 The Insane Pressure of Hollywood Shirtless Scenes 

17:35 Zac Efron's 3% Body Fat Transformation 

21:22 The Most Impressive Actor Transformation I've Seen 

22:24 Paul Rudd's SHOCKING All-Natural Transformation 

23:34 The Power Of Non-Negotiable Habits 

25:35 You're Never Too Old To Get Ripped 

26:16 Why We're All Obsessed With Superhero Physiques 

30:00 The Pressure To Stay In Shape For 10+ Years 

30:39 Why Padded Muscle Suits Don't Work 

33:19 Chris Evans Set The Bar For Superhero Bodies 

35:14 Hugh Jackman's Epic 20-Year Wolverine Transformation 

38:11 Our Hot Take On "Impossible Beauty Standards" 

41:41 Grateful vs. Satisfied: The Mindset of Champions 

43:10 The Actor Who Was Already A MONSTER In The Gym 

46:46 This Is How You Make The Gym A Habit 

50:10 The Unbelievable Strength of a UFC Champion 

53:14 The "Crazy" Mindset You NEED To Be A Champion 

55:19 How To Compartmentalize Your Life For Success 

59:01 Using Fitness To Show A Character's Growth 

1:01:22 How Long It REALLY Takes To Get Back In Shape 

1:03:24 The One Marvel Actor I Still Want To Train 

1:05:14 The Truth About Steroids In Hollywood 

1:09:26 The REAL Reason Actors Won't Admit To Steroid Use 

1:12:31 Why It's DANGEROUS For Actors To Hide Steroid Use From Trainers 

1:15:33 This Is Why Most People Will Never Get Jacked 

1:20:59 The Downfall of The Liver King 

1:24:21 The Next Marvel Actor I Want To Train 

1:26:55 Do Actors Know The Plot Of The Movies? 

1:29:15 How Tom Holland Became Spider-Man 

1:32:32 Why I'm NOT Allowed On Set During Filming 

1:35:13 The Insane Method Acting of Jared Leto 

1:41:28 The Dark Side of Being Famous 

1:45:20 The #1 Mistake Fans Make When Approaching Celebrities 

1:50:21 The Future of Celebrity Training Facilities

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