June 22, 2025 • 27 mins
Cruz Oguz, dubbed the most athletic kicker in the country prior to entering the NCAA, shares his multifaceted approach to athleticism through football, track, and tricking while creating his social media content.
• Creates and edits all content himself, recently upgrading equipment to enhance quality
• Follows a modified diet with around 200g of carbohydrates while cutting for summer
• Boasts impressive lifting numbers: 640lb deadlift, potential 500lb squat, 335lb bench press
• Tried the carnivore diet after hearing Joe Rogan discuss it, experiencing improved energy and skin clarity
• Uses the carnivore approach as a periodic "reset" similar to how fasting cleanses the system
• Takes 5g creatine daily (after loading phase), fish oil for joint health, and occasional protein powder
• Consistently disagreed with trainers who pushed high carbohydrate intake
• Training evolved from sport-specific to more aesthetic-focused for social media appeal
• Identity deeply connected to athletic pursuits: "I don't think I'd be myself if I wasn't doing that stuff"
• Final advice: "Always do it your way" - make decisions that align with your authentic self
Powered by Perfect Sports Supplements, use "AP15" to save 15%!
--
Want to see more of the AP? Subscribe to the AP YouTube channel.
--
Check out Cruz's stuff:
Instagram
--
Check out Dave's stuff:
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
--
Try Can-I-Wellness Sleep Product 20% off - AP20 at checkout
--
Get 20% off Caldera Lab Men's Skincare Products
--
Get your Vivobarefoot Shoes 20% off by using the code: ATHLETEPOD20
Check out our Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Tiktok | Spotify | Apple | Google | Youtube l Save 20% on Perfect Sports Supplements
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Well, to maintain my ego, my egotism would say
there's no one that I look up to, because I believe I'm unique.
As talky as that sounds, Ibelieve that I'm unique.
It's also the reason you haveme on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
What's going on everybody?
Welcome back.
Today we have episode 261 ofthe Athletes Podcast, featuring
Cruz Ohus, an athlete of manytalents.
He does flips, tricks, he's atrack star, he's a kicker in
football, does almost everything.
In this episode, you're goingto learn about his workout
routines, what kind ofsupplements he takes and really
(00:37):
just learning how to be yourself, as that's really something he
strives for.
It's a fantastic episode.
You guys are going to love it.
Obviously, we couldn't do thiswithout some of our sponsors and
our partners.
We have Perfect Sports, perfectSports Diesel.
They have all the supplementsyou need protein powders,
creatine, everything along thoselines and if you use code AP15
at checkout, you're going tosave 15%.
(00:59):
Seriously, this stuff isfantastic.
You're going to love it.
As well as K&I Wellness isfantastic.
You're going to love it.
As well as K&I Wellness, wehave Pioneer Auto Group.
Hopefully, dave's going to beback in the Jeep soon doing some
chats in cars with moreathletes.
Without further ado, let's getinto the episode with Cruz Ohuz.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
You're the most decorated racquetball player in
US history, world's strongestman From childhood passion to
professional athlete, eight-timeIronman champion.
So what was it like making yourdebut in the NHL?
What is your biggest piece ofadvice for the next generation
of athletes, from underdogs tonational champions?
This is the Athletes Podcast,where high-performance
(01:34):
individuals share their triumphs, defeats and life lessons to
educate, entertain and inspirethe next generation of athletes.
Here we go.
Do my best to not butcher yourname right off the start here.
Most people, I feel like, don'tdo it correctly Cruz Ohus.
Welcome to the Athletes Podcast, brother.
We do our research prior togetting our people on the
(01:57):
Athletes Podcast.
Arguably the most athletickicker in the country dubbed
prior to going into the NCAA.
You're a track star.
You're a kicker.
You're a tricker.
How do you create your content?
Do you edit it all yourself?
Are you doing all of yourvideos?
Yeah, damn dude.
Good for you.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
All by myself.
It's just like I'm sitting hereon the couch all day editing
and then I go lift and recordingall on CapCut too.
I just got a new cameraactually to really upgrade my
content.
Because you know iPhone, withtheir, the way they program
their phone just doesn't work.
After like four years it getsso frustrating.
But with the camera I think thequality is much better, heck
(02:38):
yeah.
So I think it's more attention.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Good, good stuff, man .
Well, we were just chattinghere.
I was saying you're at 57Kright now on Insta.
With the new upgraded cameraand the AP pump and a little bit
of extra time on your hands,you're going to be at that 100K,
no problem.
End of year, that's what we'repredicting right now.
You're talking about yourlifting, though, honestly,
(03:00):
straight up, the fact thatyou're doing all your editing
yourself is massive on its own.
I got to ask, though, thoughwhat are your big three lifts
out right now?
How do you train?
When I listened to one of yourpodcasts, in 2023, you're on the
carnivore diet.
Are you still doing that?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
yeah, so well, I'm dab.
I'm in a cut right now so I canuh increase my carbohydrate
intake closer like 200.
So it's a lot more than,obviously, when I was doing no
carbs at the carnivore diet.
I'm just trying to get lean,get that summer body.
It comes back to winter bybulking days.
But you asked about the bigthree.
So big three, right.
(03:36):
A bench deadlift, squat right.
Last time I maxed squat it wassenior year of high school, I
think I did 450 for two sloppyreps.
But I think if I maxed out whenI was working out at Memphis, I
think I could hit the big 500.
I'm at 640 right now with thedeadlift, and the only reason
it's 640 pounds I believe you'veseen this video is because a
(03:58):
woman did that and I'm like, asbad as it sounds, I'm like dude,
I can't let that happen, Ican't let that happen.
So, as bad as it sounds, I'mlike dude, I can't let that
happen, I can't let that happen.
So I posted the video and aweek later and some other woman
broke the record.
So now I gotta like you know,now I gotta up my game a little
bit.
Bench press is not where Ireally want it to be.
It's uh, 350, no 335 right now.
If I can get 365 by the end ofthe year, I'm sure that'll be
(04:20):
cake.
Just gotta lock in on a littlebit.
I can do that.
The big goal is probably be the.
You know four plates, four orfive.
That's what everyone's goingafter.
The.
The gymflation used to be fouror five used to be yeah, why?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
why is that gymflation?
Is that just a little bit ofextra, a little sauce in the
system for some folks?
Or is that social media?
What do you think it is?
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I don't know, I don't know what it is.
I think people are just so likewired into what's being posted
on social media.
What do you think it is?
I don't know, I don't know whatit is.
I think people are just so likewired into what's being posted
on social media.
You see these like crazyphysiques and then to the point
where you you go outside inpublic and you'll see somebody
and you'll be like, oh man, eventhough he has decent muscle,
right, you're like, oh, it's acrap, crap physique, crap
physique.
So I don't know, I think somepeople overestimate and
(05:03):
underestimate what they canachieve themselves, while
overestimating what I don't knowthey should be aiming for
realistically.
You know what I'm saying recorduh 2022 north american
regionals masters category.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
She pulled 480 uh pb of 420 pb squat.
Um, you know she was she's inher 40s, though only started
power lifting really like sixyears ago.
So, uh, late 30s, early 40syeah, crazy stuff, crazy stuff
(05:38):
anyway.
Um, this is what we do.
We bring on incredible athletesonto the show, we get to chat
with them, we learn about theirmindset, their training, their
nutrition.
Those are some big lists onyour end.
Like that, 640 is, no, no smallnumber.
Uh, 405 on the bench would becrazy.
Like that's a, that's a bignumber.
Have you like what's your three?
(05:59):
Were you saying 335?
Is that for one sloppy clean?
What are we looking?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
it was feet were kind of coming off the ground.
I've actually I've never beenthe type to use like leg drive.
Like every time I see a videolike going for a max, my like
legs are kind of like floatingup in the air.
Maybe I can, maybe I can add ona couple extra pounds if I
really locked in on my form alittle bit.
But I know, I know that's allin my chest.
That's the good news.
Yeah, yeah 100.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
One of the other guests we had on the pod, ashley
Hueta, is the largest equippedfemale bench presser in the
world.
She put up over 500 plus.
She's an absolute animal, neverdone it with the equipped.
I'm still working on getting upto that.
305, 315 number dude.
I'm putting up 225, maybe acouple reps here.
(06:46):
I got a lot of work to do, it'sthe long arms dude, you know,
we, uh, you know, as tallerathletes, that's my excuse.
I'm uh, six, two, six, three ina suit oh yeah, I got those
long arms.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
It's all right once you get muscle, like a bunch of
muscle in that flame I'm sure.
I'm sure you know that's likebeing tall and jacked, like it's
overpowered.
Yeah I'm not tall by any means.
I like six foot in shoes, butyou like you, bro, you're
overpowered I'm uh, the goal isprobably 220 eventually.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I say that now I'm like you know we're.
You know we still got a coupleyears of growth before we got to
tighten it up into our 30s.
But the constant desire to getbetter physically, mentally, you
said it yourself, social mediadoes a lot of damage because you
see all these incrediblephysiques online.
Half these images might beedited.
(07:38):
Half the other images peopleare starving.
They're not actually healthy inreality.
So it's an interesting dynamicthat we have to live with here
in 2025.
Um, but you know, we we alsoget to be the beneficiaries of
all this incredible knowledgeresearch that's being done.
Um, why did you start thecarnivore?
I'm curious, because that was2023, that was covid stuff.
(08:00):
Like.
Do you still mix in that?
Because of your cut like.
Like, I want to dive deeperinto the training nutrition
piece.
I think, specifically, a lot ofathletes in their you know,
ncaa, collegiate universitycareers start to realize the
benefits.
Some do, some don't.
That can be the differencebetween moving on to a
professional stage or, you know,becoming a non-professional,
(08:25):
put it that way I started it inlate 2022 it was.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
It was going into the second half of my senior year
and I I like the way that I lookand I think that can be a
healthy thing and that and thatcan be about.
You're the type of person tolook in the mirror and be like,
damn, I look like crap and theneat like crap.
You're kind of digging yourselfin a hole.
But if you look in the mirrorand say, dang, I look like crap,
I gotta eat like crap.
You're kind of digging yourselfin a hole.
But if you look in the mirrorand say, dang, I look like crap,
I got to look better, that's agood thing.
So I heard you know, joe, itwas literally just from Joe
Rogan.
(08:50):
I did no study, nothing.
I just heard Joe Rogan talkabout it.
I'm like, okay, I got to trythis.
So I tried it.
Energy levels through the roof.
I still had some acneDisappeared, felt good, got
shredded.
I think I had a bit of newbiegain at the same time, because I
don't mean to been the laws ofthermodynamics here, but I swore
(09:14):
I gained muscle while losingfat at the same time.
It's pretty crazy, but I thinkthat's just newbie gains, kind
of stimulating my muscle, causeI never really lifted seriously
throughout high school.
I was just kind of, you know,naturally strong, I had the good
genetics and whatnot, butthat's kind of continued that on
.
It got really difficult atMississippi state because you
know I was waking up 6 o'clockbreakfast.
(09:34):
Go to class, go to lift, doyour practice.
The worst part about football,by the way, I'm sure you'd agree
, the worst part about footballis conditioning With track.
That's all you did.
That was the whole point.
So I kind of got tired.
I kind of felt like that.
I was doing it half a year atthat point so I had felt like
(09:57):
the fatigue a bit.
So I kind of bumped up mycarbohydrates, felt good.
I think it's carnivore diet isreally something you should
probably do every couple ofmonths, kind of like a reset,
kind of like how, when peoplefast, it's like a cleansing of
their system.
That's how I saw it, and so Istill see it.
So I'll probably start it uphere again in a couple months.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, the it's like an elimination diet at the end
of the day, right.
And when you put a bunch ofstuff into your body that maybe
it's not able to like synthesizeuh for lack of a better term or
absorb, then, yeah, when you godown to meat and veggies, it's
a pretty basic diet that yourbody's like oh, I can handle
(10:33):
these substances and I'll befine, right?
Uh, when you start mixing inall the processed foods, when
you start jacking up the carbs,you know your body's like holy
dina, there's a lot of stuff toprocess.
But, um, yeah, does yourtraining look like because I
know it's probably changed fromtrack and field to football to
now like kind of bodybuild?
I don't know like, how doeswhat does your training look
(10:54):
like?
Are you training a couple daysa week?
Are you training every day?
Are you going plyos?
Are you going heavy?
Like how do you?
How do you build it out?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
yeah, I'll do at least two things kind of which
my, like you said, switch mytraining more of a football
trying to get better at thesport you know track to more of
something that looks a littlebit better on social media,
because I'm no fool when I saythat trying to become something
in this day and age is kind of,um, very, very reliant on social
(11:21):
media and your and your image.
So I'll do the things that lookthe best on there.
I've I do more of a bodybuilderstyle training I I don't really
do much of the power lifting,trying to see how much I can
lift anymore, although that'sfun to fun to dabble in every
now and then.
I just kind of focus onattacking the muscle, isolating
the muscle, shocking it, doingwhatever.
I tried Mike Mincer's trainingactually, which you're losing a
(11:45):
lot of weight doing that.
It's very, very intense.
It's almost always to a failure.
I believe I tried to get upreally good.
I felt like I was growing justas rapidly as I was when I was
really really hitting the musclefor multiple sets as opposed to
just one set, taking to areally extreme level and then
(12:06):
leaving it there andprioritizing rest.
So I'll lift Later today.
I'm probably going to go kickor something like that.
I've got to go to LouisianaTech next week to kick in front
of their coaches, so that'sexciting.
But yeah, just two things today, two things every day.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Heck yeah.
And I'm noticing a trend in thesense that you are constantly
changing things up.
I feel like that is somethingthat athletes should really
understand graphs from what youdo and the way you operate One
day you're kicking, the next dayyou're bodybuilding do.
And the way you operate one dayyou're kicking, the next day
you're body building.
The next day you're trying topull 640 pounds, right, like
there's something to be said foradjusting and adapting and
(12:44):
allowing your body to do thatfor you and allowing that to
become subconscious, right.
And you even said, likebecoming someone or becoming
something in this day and age.
Dude cruz, you're already there.
Don't forget that.
You're already someone, you'resomething right now.
But I know where your head's at.
I feel the exact same way and Ijust allow you provide you some
(13:05):
comfort in the sense that, likeyou're going to continue to grow
, scale and impact more with thework that you continue to put
in and the effort that youprovide again, again, like I
talked about it before, but likeyou're a student athlete,
you're the one waking up at 5, 6am grinding.
You're not necessarily goingstaying out every night.
You don't have theresponsibilities necessarily of
(13:25):
a 40-year-old with kids in ahome.
But you know, student athleteshave to perform, have to put in
way more time and effort than atypical student, and that's
going to set you apartpost-school, whatever else you
pursue.
So I just heard that there.
I wanted to make sure you knowyou're something right now and
you're going to make sure thatthe work that you do is going to
impact so many others down theroad.
(13:46):
That's what we're doing here onthe podcast.
Who kind of inspired you otherthan your dad Were there.
Athletes that you looked up toI know you just mentioned mike
menser and like his trainingobviously high volume, intense,
one set, give it all you got andthen prioritize rest, like you
said.
Were there any others that youkind of adopted?
Or people that you admire lookup to train like?
Speaker 1 (14:08):
well to um, maintain my ego, my egotistical, but say
there's no one that I like lookup because I?
I believe I'm unique as talkyas that sounds, I.
But there's no one that I likelook up to because I believe I'm
unique as poppy as that sounds,I believe that I'm unique.
There's also the reason youhave me on the podcast.
But in each independent niche Idefinitely had people that I
looked up to Sam Kojo, hugeexample for the tricking like
(14:30):
the flips that I do.
He was the one that was on thisguy named Plan Zero's videos
and he actually made a massivewebsite called Kojo's Trick Lab,
because it's an incrediblyniche sport.
It's hard to actually progressjust from YouTube.
So if I had what these kidshave now Kojo's Trick Lab they
can just sign up and searchwhatever trick and it's a huge
(14:50):
20-minute step-by-step how to dothis flip Same Kojo, for sure,
with flips.
Mike Minter, you know, arnold,for the bodybuilder, everybody
who doesn't want to look likethem, right, I'd say for track
and field, I actually, who wouldI say for track and field?
Oh, peyton Baird.
Peyton Baird, two days ago hewon the.
I'm sure you know he won theNCAA indoor and outdoor
(15:14):
heptathlon and decathlon.
So that's pretty crazy.
I talked to Peyton a lot backin the day when we were just
going to training.
He definitely approaches thingsin a way that is kind of
foreign to me, but it justcompletely works.
He's so dialed in all the timeand, yeah, I have nothing but
respect for him.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
So yeah, we're in the workout mindset.
We're talking about working out.
We're talking about gettingmuscle on the body.
What supplements do you take?
What are you consuming to addsize to vascularity that you got
?
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Protein right now.
I did my loading phase a couplemonths back, going into the
summer, just 15 grams a day forabout a week, two weeks, and
then now I'm just five grams aday.
I do the pills.
I can't do the powder.
I don't know what it is aboutthe powder, because it's
literally.
It has no flavor, but to me itjust tastes disgusting.
Really One time I like.
Yeah, one time I did 15 gramsdry and then I got the energy
(16:10):
drink and then something thatjust upset me so much and now I
can't do powder anymore.
There's a lot of things I can'tdo.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
There's a lot of research that's just come out
talking about the fact that 10grams is actually needed for
guys our size, maybe a bit morebeneficial from the muscle
protein synthesis aspect andyeah, anyway, who knows, just
might be some.
I am very fortunate that I havePerfect Sports as a brand
(16:42):
podcast sponsor and they hook usup with some amazing
supplements.
Actually, I got some creatineright here.
Yeah, like I said, I take 10grams every day.
Use the code ap15 if you wantto save 15.
But, dude, not only the musclebenefits, but the physical
benefits, the cranial benefits,um, you know, especially
(17:04):
actually a lot of thealzheimer's research.
Now they're supplementing, likeyou said, 10, 15, 20 grams of
creatine and crazy resultscoming from it, and I've been
preaching it for a while on thepodcast.
People are coming to terms withit.
But it's like the mostresearched supplement ever and
it's literally safe for, youknow, a 16-year-old kid who's
trying to put on muscle or a60-year-old mom who's trying to
(17:26):
make sure that she keeps herbrain in order and can stay
organized throughout the day,Like I don't know, and make sure
that she keeps her brain inorder and can stay organized
throughout the day.
I don't know, it was demonizedfor a bit.
People were concerned about thekidneys.
I've been an advocate for itand it sounds like you are too.
What else?
Protein powder, omega-3s,vitamin D.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Oh yeah, I'll do protein powder.
I just started doing oil aswell.
My joints, oh like.
I feel so good.
In the morning I used to justlike wait for like a 40-year-old
man.
I'm walking down the stairs.
He's hurt.
I'm like dude, what is this?
I'm like I'm supposed to be atthe peak of my like testosterone
.
It's supposed to be all downhere All day.
It's like five years, but Istarted taking fish oil.
(18:05):
My joints feel really good.
I couldn't tell you the exactamount.
They give them to me at thefootball facility.
They're like these two littletransparent pills.
Other than that, I do ISO 100protein powder.
I try to stay away from protein, but I'll definitely take it on
a rainy day when you've got toget your protein in.
(18:27):
It does make me feel a littlebit more bloated than just you
know day.
You're just eating some groundbeef but you know it, it helps.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Yeah, we got it.
We got to get you on the diesel.
That might make a difference,but either way, the uh yeah, I
mean when it comes to nutritionpeople, again, it's, it's, it is
a supplement to supplement ifyou can't get your whole foods
in.
Those should be your priorityat all times.
But you know, there's uh timeswhen you take six scoops of iso
100 and mix it with your cornflakes and you say that's all
(18:56):
you need in your day, right,right I did do that sorry, I had
to call you.
Call you, I'll put you on blastfor that one.
What uh would the mississippior the mem Memphis coaches think
that was the ideal way to getyour calories in for the day?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I don't know, I don't think they cared, but I've
always, at every school thatI've been to, I've always been
in disagreement with thetrainers.
They've always, everywhere thetrainers prioritize like you've
got to get your carbs, carbs,carbs, carbs, and I'm like I
just don't feel good doing that.
And then I'll see guys that'llcome in that are supposed to
play.
You know, they're supposed tobe heavy, they're supposed to
(19:36):
play linebacker, right, they'llcome in at 205 into the season.
They're 225 pounds, but justlike like double chin, double,
like yeah, that's, he has moremuscle, but is he healthier?
I don't, I don't really know.
I just don't like the, the, theway that looks and being.
I was fortunate enough to bealready heavy enough for my
(19:56):
position, arguably a little bitheavier, uh.
So I didn't, I don't reallyhave to worry.
I never had to worry aboutgaining weight, gaining fat like
that.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, it's an interesting thing when you uh,
you know there's obviouslyvarying opinions on this kind of
stuff, but from a healthstandpoint, adding 20 pounds
within the course of a footballseason is probably not
necessarily the healthiest wayto do it.
Does having more size over timeallow you to, you know, make
bigger hits and control the gamebetter?
(20:26):
Probably a little bit, but ifyou can't run as fast because
you've got an extra 20 pounds onyour body, are you actually as
effective in your sport, in yourrole, in your position?
Maybe not.
Again, depends on what yourposition is, but there's some
varying opinions on it.
Put it that way, I'm not theexpert, I just bring people on
the show.
Let them share their opinion.
I think I'm actually in yourfavor here on this one, because
(20:50):
a lot of people, especially atthe young age, are consuming
crazy amounts of, frankly crap,the carbs that they're consuming
.
It's like, oh yeah, throw backa bunch of Smuckers, what are
those Uncrustables?
And you're like oh, what arethe big ones that all the
football teams are crushing now?
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Butter, they do the, they do the.
The mass gainer, it's like, ohmy gosh, that's like so calorie
when you they need it to gainweight.
Absolutely, it's just not.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I'm not particularly in feeling the way trying to
cram their you know stomachsevery day yeah, well, and
there's something to be said forperforming and not having your
body constantly be in a state oftrying to digest.
You know, there's like that'sit's tough to put out your best
self when you've got, you know,a bunch of calories in your
stomach trying to digest.
(21:40):
What would you be doing if youweren't playing football right
now, cruz, if you weren'ttricking, if you weren't jumping
?
I feel like you've got theability to create content to get
people absorbed into whateveryou're doing, whether you're
parkouring, whether you'rekicking 50-yard field goals.
Is there something that youhaven't done yet that you want
(22:01):
to do?
I always am curious, becausepeople play their sport, they do
the things that they're kind ofquote-unquote, supposed to do.
What would you do if you didn'thave those things?
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Well, going back to social media, like I think I
think it's a bad thing if youweren't going to compare
yourself, but it's a good thingif you kind of get a little
envious, not overly envious, buta little bit.
So I see stuff every single dayLike dude, I need to be like
that guy.
I got to get big, big, I gottaget more money, I gotta do this
(22:37):
and that.
So to answer the question,would I?
I don't, I don't really knowwhat I would do if I wasn't
doing the stuff I was doing outwith the flips and stuff,
because at that point I'd haveto question whether I am myself
if I wasn't doing that stuff.
Because I think it's just youknow the mindset and discipline
that brought me to the pointwhere I am at.
There's some cool stuff I wantto do, I want to go skydiving
and stuff.
I'm certainly not content withwhere I'm at because I want to
(22:58):
grow with the base that I'mbuilt, but I don't think I'd be
myself.
I don't know what I'd be doingif I wasn't doing the stuff I
was doing.
Now, that's what I'm trying tosay.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
No, that's good, that what I'd be doing if I wasn't
doing the stuff I was doing now.
That's what I'm trying to say.
No, that's good.
That means you are staying trueto yourself and you're not
doing this because your parentspushed you in one direction.
I bring it up because my buddy,Brian Wallach, here in British
Columbia you might have seen himon Instagram.
He's a big six foot seven gymshark athlete.
He's kind of playing offlooking like David Laid doing
some Ashton Hall videos.
Uh, he's had like half amillion followers right now on
(23:32):
Instagram.
I'm a little envious of himright now, Cause we're training,
we're at fitness world at 6.00AM and Sam, you know here and
I'm like man, this guy isblowing up but he's putting in
the work, he's putting in theeffort, he's put in the time,
he's dedicated.
He's been doing it for yearsnow and you know that's a
testament to hard work,dedication, like you said, and
(23:52):
that's what it comes from.
It doesn't happen overnight.
People see on socials and theythink it's like an instant form
of becoming a celebrity, butthey don't see the years of work
prior where you know you wereposting every day and people
didn't necessarily see yourcontent every day.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, most definitely For um, for sure.
Yeah, it's just all aboutgrinding what's uh?
Speaker 3 (24:17):
what's your biggest motivation?
Do you think your uh?
Your mom or your dad?
Are they living locally to you?
Are they still in like northamerica?
Do you go back to turkey everycouple years?
Speaker 1 (24:29):
yeah, they're in miss Mississippi, about two hours
south of me right now.
So yeah, I'm in Memphis at themoment.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Okay, well, hey, dude , I know you got your camp in a
week that you're going to begoing and kicking putting up
performance in front of thecoaching staff.
I always like to give people anopportunity to share their
biggest piece of advice with thenext generation of athletes.
As the 261st guest podcastappearance on the show, I'd love
to leave the floor for you toshare what that biggest piece is
(24:58):
for you.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Okay, I might not have remembered the Arnold quote
, but I do remember a littleWayne quote.
He said what's a little Waynedude?
I can't remember whatever, butsomebody said.
Someone said said you alwayshave to do it your way.
Always have to do it your way.
Like you're gonna hear people,you're gonna even hear your
parents, you're gonna hear your,your friends that you might
think are close to you trying toget in your head.
(25:21):
No, no, don't you should.
I'm not saying don't takeadvice, but you should always do
your way.
And every decision, every bigdecision, every small decision
that I made in my life led tothe point where I'm at right now
.
There's been times where, whenI was transferred from delta
state, like dude, my footballcareer is over, like, but I'm
gonna.
I'm gonna bet on myself.
I've got a gambling addiction,so I'm gonna bet on myself that
(25:44):
I'm gonna go fbs and I'm gonnaaccomplish my dreams and I'm
gonna look good on social mediaand I'm gonna have all this
money.
There's it.
You should always do it yourway.
That's, that's the best pieceof advice I can give speaking
and speaking it into existence.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Brother, I can't wait to see it.
I can't wait to see it.
I'm excited for you, dude.
Uh, I know this is just thebeginning.
It's gonna be cool to continueto watch.
Follow along.
Um, I appreciate you coming onthe podcast for sharing your
story, for providing someinsights to the next generation.
We'll get you on again whenyou're at that million.
Maybe we'll go for a ride inthe Lambo.
I got the Jeep here in BritishColumbia Thanks to Pioneer Auto
(26:19):
Group.
If you're ever up in BritishColumbia or Canada, you better
let me know.
We'll do some tricking or I'llat least watch you trick jump
around, and then we'll get inthe Jeep record.
Another, another episode, yocruz, oh, who's.
Thank you for coming on theathletes podcast man sincerely
appreciate it thank you so muchfor having me all right,
everybody that'll do it here forus today at the athletes
podcast.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Really hope you guys enjoyed.
Cruz is an awesome guy.
He's gonna do some awesomethings.
Hopefully dave can get him inthe jeep sometime soon get him
up to bc.
But that's gonna do it for us.
Comment, subscribe, doeverything you can to amplify
our podcast.
You know it means so much to us.
It lets us keep doing theseawesome things.
Having these awesomeconversations means the world to
us.
So again, keep supporting usand we're going to keep doing
(27:00):
some awesome things for you guys.
Again, have a good one.
Well, to maintain my ego, my egotism would say
there's no one that I look up to, because I believe I'm unique.
As talky as that sounds, Ibelieve that I'm unique.
It's also the reason you haveme on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
What's going on everybody?
Welcome back.
Today we have episode 261 ofthe Athletes Podcast, featuring
Cruz Ohus, an athlete of manytalents.
He does flips, tricks, he's atrack star, he's a kicker in
football, does almost everything.
In this episode, you're goingto learn about his workout
routines, what kind ofsupplements he takes and really
(00:37):
just learning how to be yourself, as that's really something he
strives for.
It's a fantastic episode.
You guys are going to love it.
Obviously, we couldn't do thiswithout some of our sponsors and
our partners.
We have Perfect Sports, perfectSports Diesel.
They have all the supplementsyou need protein powders,
creatine, everything along thoselines and if you use code AP15
at checkout, you're going tosave 15%.
(00:59):
Seriously, this stuff isfantastic.
You're going to love it.
As well as K&I Wellness isfantastic.
You're going to love it.
As well as K&I Wellness, wehave Pioneer Auto Group.
Hopefully, dave's going to beback in the Jeep soon doing some
chats in cars with moreathletes.
Without further ado, let's getinto the episode with Cruz Ohuz.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
You're the most decorated racquetball player in
US history, world's strongestman From childhood passion to
professional athlete, eight-timeIronman champion.
So what was it like making yourdebut in the NHL?
What is your biggest piece ofadvice for the next generation
of athletes, from underdogs tonational champions?
This is the Athletes Podcast,where high-performance
(01:34):
individuals share their triumphs, defeats and life lessons to
educate, entertain and inspirethe next generation of athletes.
Here we go.
Do my best to not butcher yourname right off the start here.
Most people, I feel like, don'tdo it correctly Cruz Ohus.
Welcome to the Athletes Podcast, brother.
We do our research prior togetting our people on the
(01:57):
Athletes Podcast.
Arguably the most athletickicker in the country dubbed
prior to going into the NCAA.
You're a track star.
You're a kicker.
You're a tricker.
How do you create your content?
Do you edit it all yourself?
Are you doing all of yourvideos?
Yeah, damn dude.
Good for you.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
All by myself.
It's just like I'm sitting hereon the couch all day editing
and then I go lift and recordingall on CapCut too.
I just got a new cameraactually to really upgrade my
content.
Because you know iPhone, withtheir, the way they program
their phone just doesn't work.
After like four years it getsso frustrating.
But with the camera I think thequality is much better, heck
(02:38):
yeah.
So I think it's more attention.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Good, good stuff, man .
Well, we were just chattinghere.
I was saying you're at 57Kright now on Insta.
With the new upgraded cameraand the AP pump and a little bit
of extra time on your hands,you're going to be at that 100K,
no problem.
End of year, that's what we'repredicting right now.
You're talking about yourlifting, though, honestly,
(03:00):
straight up, the fact thatyou're doing all your editing
yourself is massive on its own.
I got to ask, though, thoughwhat are your big three lifts
out right now?
How do you train?
When I listened to one of yourpodcasts, in 2023, you're on the
carnivore diet.
Are you still doing that?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
yeah, so well, I'm dab.
I'm in a cut right now so I canuh increase my carbohydrate
intake closer like 200.
So it's a lot more than,obviously, when I was doing no
carbs at the carnivore diet.
I'm just trying to get lean,get that summer body.
It comes back to winter bybulking days.
But you asked about the bigthree.
So big three, right.
(03:36):
A bench deadlift, squat right.
Last time I maxed squat it wassenior year of high school, I
think I did 450 for two sloppyreps.
But I think if I maxed out whenI was working out at Memphis, I
think I could hit the big 500.
I'm at 640 right now with thedeadlift, and the only reason
it's 640 pounds I believe you'veseen this video is because a
(03:58):
woman did that and I'm like, asbad as it sounds, I'm like dude,
I can't let that happen, Ican't let that happen.
So, as bad as it sounds, I'mlike dude, I can't let that
happen, I can't let that happen.
So I posted the video and aweek later and some other woman
broke the record.
So now I gotta like you know,now I gotta up my game a little
bit.
Bench press is not where Ireally want it to be.
It's uh, 350, no 335 right now.
If I can get 365 by the end ofthe year, I'm sure that'll be
(04:20):
cake.
Just gotta lock in on a littlebit.
I can do that.
The big goal is probably be the.
You know four plates, four orfive.
That's what everyone's goingafter.
The.
The gymflation used to be fouror five used to be yeah, why?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
why is that gymflation?
Is that just a little bit ofextra, a little sauce in the
system for some folks?
Or is that social media?
What do you think it is?
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I don't know, I don't know what it is.
I think people are just so likewired into what's being posted
on social media.
What do you think it is?
I don't know, I don't know whatit is.
I think people are just so likewired into what's being posted
on social media.
You see these like crazyphysiques and then to the point
where you you go outside inpublic and you'll see somebody
and you'll be like, oh man, eventhough he has decent muscle,
right, you're like, oh, it's acrap, crap physique, crap
physique.
So I don't know, I think somepeople overestimate and
(05:03):
underestimate what they canachieve themselves, while
overestimating what I don't knowthey should be aiming for
realistically.
You know what I'm saying recorduh 2022 north american
regionals masters category.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
She pulled 480 uh pb of 420 pb squat.
Um, you know she was she's inher 40s, though only started
power lifting really like sixyears ago.
So, uh, late 30s, early 40syeah, crazy stuff, crazy stuff
(05:38):
anyway.
Um, this is what we do.
We bring on incredible athletesonto the show, we get to chat
with them, we learn about theirmindset, their training, their
nutrition.
Those are some big lists onyour end.
Like that, 640 is, no, no smallnumber.
Uh, 405 on the bench would becrazy.
Like that's a, that's a bignumber.
Have you like what's your three?
(05:59):
Were you saying 335?
Is that for one sloppy clean?
What are we looking?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
it was feet were kind of coming off the ground.
I've actually I've never beenthe type to use like leg drive.
Like every time I see a videolike going for a max, my like
legs are kind of like floatingup in the air.
Maybe I can, maybe I can add ona couple extra pounds if I
really locked in on my form alittle bit.
But I know, I know that's allin my chest.
That's the good news.
Yeah, yeah 100.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
One of the other guests we had on the pod, ashley
Hueta, is the largest equippedfemale bench presser in the
world.
She put up over 500 plus.
She's an absolute animal, neverdone it with the equipped.
I'm still working on getting upto that.
305, 315 number dude.
I'm putting up 225, maybe acouple reps here.
(06:46):
I got a lot of work to do, it'sthe long arms dude, you know,
we, uh, you know, as tallerathletes, that's my excuse.
I'm uh, six, two, six, three ina suit oh yeah, I got those
long arms.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
It's all right once you get muscle, like a bunch of
muscle in that flame I'm sure.
I'm sure you know that's likebeing tall and jacked, like it's
overpowered.
Yeah I'm not tall by any means.
I like six foot in shoes, butyou like you, bro, you're
overpowered I'm uh, the goal isprobably 220 eventually.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I say that now I'm like you know we're.
You know we still got a coupleyears of growth before we got to
tighten it up into our 30s.
But the constant desire to getbetter physically, mentally, you
said it yourself, social mediadoes a lot of damage because you
see all these incrediblephysiques online.
Half these images might beedited.
(07:38):
Half the other images peopleare starving.
They're not actually healthy inreality.
So it's an interesting dynamicthat we have to live with here
in 2025.
Um, but you know, we we alsoget to be the beneficiaries of
all this incredible knowledgeresearch that's being done.
Um, why did you start thecarnivore?
I'm curious, because that was2023, that was covid stuff.
(08:00):
Like.
Do you still mix in that?
Because of your cut like.
Like, I want to dive deeperinto the training nutrition
piece.
I think, specifically, a lot ofathletes in their you know,
ncaa, collegiate universitycareers start to realize the
benefits.
Some do, some don't.
That can be the differencebetween moving on to a
professional stage or, you know,becoming a non-professional,
(08:25):
put it that way I started it inlate 2022 it was.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
It was going into the second half of my senior year
and I I like the way that I lookand I think that can be a
healthy thing and that and thatcan be about.
You're the type of person tolook in the mirror and be like,
damn, I look like crap and theneat like crap.
You're kind of digging yourselfin a hole.
But if you look in the mirrorand say, dang, I look like crap,
I gotta eat like crap.
You're kind of digging yourselfin a hole.
But if you look in the mirrorand say, dang, I look like crap,
I got to look better, that's agood thing.
So I heard you know, joe, itwas literally just from Joe
Rogan.
(08:50):
I did no study, nothing.
I just heard Joe Rogan talkabout it.
I'm like, okay, I got to trythis.
So I tried it.
Energy levels through the roof.
I still had some acneDisappeared, felt good, got
shredded.
I think I had a bit of newbiegain at the same time, because I
don't mean to been the laws ofthermodynamics here, but I swore
(09:14):
I gained muscle while losingfat at the same time.
It's pretty crazy, but I thinkthat's just newbie gains, kind
of stimulating my muscle, causeI never really lifted seriously
throughout high school.
I was just kind of, you know,naturally strong, I had the good
genetics and whatnot, butthat's kind of continued that on
.
It got really difficult atMississippi state because you
know I was waking up 6 o'clockbreakfast.
(09:34):
Go to class, go to lift, doyour practice.
The worst part about football,by the way, I'm sure you'd agree
, the worst part about footballis conditioning With track.
That's all you did.
That was the whole point.
So I kind of got tired.
I kind of felt like that.
I was doing it half a year atthat point so I had felt like
(09:57):
the fatigue a bit.
So I kind of bumped up mycarbohydrates, felt good.
I think it's carnivore diet isreally something you should
probably do every couple ofmonths, kind of like a reset,
kind of like how, when peoplefast, it's like a cleansing of
their system.
That's how I saw it, and so Istill see it.
So I'll probably start it uphere again in a couple months.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, the it's like an elimination diet at the end
of the day, right.
And when you put a bunch ofstuff into your body that maybe
it's not able to like synthesizeuh for lack of a better term or
absorb, then, yeah, when you godown to meat and veggies, it's
a pretty basic diet that yourbody's like oh, I can handle
(10:33):
these substances and I'll befine, right?
Uh, when you start mixing inall the processed foods, when
you start jacking up the carbs,you know your body's like holy
dina, there's a lot of stuff toprocess.
But, um, yeah, does yourtraining look like because I
know it's probably changed fromtrack and field to football to
now like kind of bodybuild?
I don't know like, how doeswhat does your training look
(10:54):
like?
Are you training a couple daysa week?
Are you training every day?
Are you going plyos?
Are you going heavy?
Like how do you?
How do you build it out?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
yeah, I'll do at least two things kind of which
my, like you said, switch mytraining more of a football
trying to get better at thesport you know track to more of
something that looks a littlebit better on social media,
because I'm no fool when I saythat trying to become something
in this day and age is kind of,um, very, very reliant on social
(11:21):
media and your and your image.
So I'll do the things that lookthe best on there.
I've I do more of a bodybuilderstyle training I I don't really
do much of the power lifting,trying to see how much I can
lift anymore, although that'sfun to fun to dabble in every
now and then.
I just kind of focus onattacking the muscle, isolating
the muscle, shocking it, doingwhatever.
I tried Mike Mincer's trainingactually, which you're losing a
(11:45):
lot of weight doing that.
It's very, very intense.
It's almost always to a failure.
I believe I tried to get upreally good.
I felt like I was growing justas rapidly as I was when I was
really really hitting the musclefor multiple sets as opposed to
just one set, taking to areally extreme level and then
(12:06):
leaving it there andprioritizing rest.
So I'll lift Later today.
I'm probably going to go kickor something like that.
I've got to go to LouisianaTech next week to kick in front
of their coaches, so that'sexciting.
But yeah, just two things today, two things every day.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Heck yeah.
And I'm noticing a trend in thesense that you are constantly
changing things up.
I feel like that is somethingthat athletes should really
understand graphs from what youdo and the way you operate One
day you're kicking, the next dayyou're bodybuilding do.
And the way you operate one dayyou're kicking, the next day
you're body building.
The next day you're trying topull 640 pounds, right, like
there's something to be said foradjusting and adapting and
(12:44):
allowing your body to do thatfor you and allowing that to
become subconscious, right.
And you even said, likebecoming someone or becoming
something in this day and age.
Dude cruz, you're already there.
Don't forget that.
You're already someone, you'resomething right now.
But I know where your head's at.
I feel the exact same way and Ijust allow you provide you some
(13:05):
comfort in the sense that, likeyou're going to continue to grow
, scale and impact more with thework that you continue to put
in and the effort that youprovide again, again, like I
talked about it before, but likeyou're a student athlete,
you're the one waking up at 5, 6am grinding.
You're not necessarily goingstaying out every night.
You don't have theresponsibilities necessarily of
(13:25):
a 40-year-old with kids in ahome.
But you know, student athleteshave to perform, have to put in
way more time and effort than atypical student, and that's
going to set you apartpost-school, whatever else you
pursue.
So I just heard that there.
I wanted to make sure you knowyou're something right now and
you're going to make sure thatthe work that you do is going to
impact so many others down theroad.
(13:46):
That's what we're doing here onthe podcast.
Who kind of inspired you otherthan your dad Were there.
Athletes that you looked up toI know you just mentioned mike
menser and like his trainingobviously high volume, intense,
one set, give it all you got andthen prioritize rest, like you
said.
Were there any others that youkind of adopted?
Or people that you admire lookup to train like?
Speaker 1 (14:08):
well to um, maintain my ego, my egotistical, but say
there's no one that I like lookup because I?
I believe I'm unique as talkyas that sounds, I.
But there's no one that I likelook up to because I believe I'm
unique as poppy as that sounds,I believe that I'm unique.
There's also the reason youhave me on the podcast.
But in each independent niche Idefinitely had people that I
looked up to Sam Kojo, hugeexample for the tricking like
(14:30):
the flips that I do.
He was the one that was on thisguy named Plan Zero's videos
and he actually made a massivewebsite called Kojo's Trick Lab,
because it's an incrediblyniche sport.
It's hard to actually progressjust from YouTube.
So if I had what these kidshave now Kojo's Trick Lab they
can just sign up and searchwhatever trick and it's a huge
(14:50):
20-minute step-by-step how to dothis flip Same Kojo, for sure,
with flips.
Mike Minter, you know, arnold,for the bodybuilder, everybody
who doesn't want to look likethem, right, I'd say for track
and field, I actually, who wouldI say for track and field?
Oh, peyton Baird.
Peyton Baird, two days ago hewon the.
I'm sure you know he won theNCAA indoor and outdoor
(15:14):
heptathlon and decathlon.
So that's pretty crazy.
I talked to Peyton a lot backin the day when we were just
going to training.
He definitely approaches thingsin a way that is kind of
foreign to me, but it justcompletely works.
He's so dialed in all the timeand, yeah, I have nothing but
respect for him.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
So yeah, we're in the workout mindset.
We're talking about working out.
We're talking about gettingmuscle on the body.
What supplements do you take?
What are you consuming to addsize to vascularity that you got
?
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Protein right now.
I did my loading phase a couplemonths back, going into the
summer, just 15 grams a day forabout a week, two weeks, and
then now I'm just five grams aday.
I do the pills.
I can't do the powder.
I don't know what it is aboutthe powder, because it's
literally.
It has no flavor, but to me itjust tastes disgusting.
Really One time I like.
Yeah, one time I did 15 gramsdry and then I got the energy
(16:10):
drink and then something thatjust upset me so much and now I
can't do powder anymore.
There's a lot of things I can'tdo.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
There's a lot of research that's just come out
talking about the fact that 10grams is actually needed for
guys our size, maybe a bit morebeneficial from the muscle
protein synthesis aspect andyeah, anyway, who knows, just
might be some.
I am very fortunate that I havePerfect Sports as a brand
(16:42):
podcast sponsor and they hook usup with some amazing
supplements.
Actually, I got some creatineright here.
Yeah, like I said, I take 10grams every day.
Use the code ap15 if you wantto save 15.
But, dude, not only the musclebenefits, but the physical
benefits, the cranial benefits,um, you know, especially
(17:04):
actually a lot of thealzheimer's research.
Now they're supplementing, likeyou said, 10, 15, 20 grams of
creatine and crazy resultscoming from it, and I've been
preaching it for a while on thepodcast.
People are coming to terms withit.
But it's like the mostresearched supplement ever and
it's literally safe for, youknow, a 16-year-old kid who's
trying to put on muscle or a60-year-old mom who's trying to
(17:26):
make sure that she keeps herbrain in order and can stay
organized throughout the day,Like I don't know, and make sure
that she keeps her brain inorder and can stay organized
throughout the day.
I don't know, it was demonizedfor a bit.
People were concerned about thekidneys.
I've been an advocate for itand it sounds like you are too.
What else?
Protein powder, omega-3s,vitamin D.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Oh yeah, I'll do protein powder.
I just started doing oil aswell.
My joints, oh like.
I feel so good.
In the morning I used to justlike wait for like a 40-year-old
man.
I'm walking down the stairs.
He's hurt.
I'm like dude, what is this?
I'm like I'm supposed to be atthe peak of my like testosterone
.
It's supposed to be all downhere All day.
It's like five years, but Istarted taking fish oil.
(18:05):
My joints feel really good.
I couldn't tell you the exactamount.
They give them to me at thefootball facility.
They're like these two littletransparent pills.
Other than that, I do ISO 100protein powder.
I try to stay away from protein, but I'll definitely take it on
a rainy day when you've got toget your protein in.
(18:27):
It does make me feel a littlebit more bloated than just you
know day.
You're just eating some groundbeef but you know it, it helps.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Yeah, we got it.
We got to get you on the diesel.
That might make a difference,but either way, the uh yeah, I
mean when it comes to nutritionpeople, again, it's, it's, it is
a supplement to supplement ifyou can't get your whole foods
in.
Those should be your priorityat all times.
But you know, there's uh timeswhen you take six scoops of iso
100 and mix it with your cornflakes and you say that's all
(18:56):
you need in your day, right,right I did do that sorry, I had
to call you.
Call you, I'll put you on blastfor that one.
What uh would the mississippior the mem Memphis coaches think
that was the ideal way to getyour calories in for the day?
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I don't know, I don't think they cared, but I've
always, at every school thatI've been to, I've always been
in disagreement with thetrainers.
They've always, everywhere thetrainers prioritize like you've
got to get your carbs, carbs,carbs, carbs, and I'm like I
just don't feel good doing that.
And then I'll see guys that'llcome in that are supposed to
play.
You know, they're supposed tobe heavy, they're supposed to
(19:36):
play linebacker, right, they'llcome in at 205 into the season.
They're 225 pounds, but justlike like double chin, double,
like yeah, that's, he has moremuscle, but is he healthier?
I don't, I don't really know.
I just don't like the, the, theway that looks and being.
I was fortunate enough to bealready heavy enough for my
(19:56):
position, arguably a little bitheavier, uh.
So I didn't, I don't reallyhave to worry.
I never had to worry aboutgaining weight, gaining fat like
that.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, it's an interesting thing when you uh,
you know there's obviouslyvarying opinions on this kind of
stuff, but from a healthstandpoint, adding 20 pounds
within the course of a footballseason is probably not
necessarily the healthiest wayto do it.
Does having more size over timeallow you to, you know, make
bigger hits and control the gamebetter?
(20:26):
Probably a little bit, but ifyou can't run as fast because
you've got an extra 20 pounds onyour body, are you actually as
effective in your sport, in yourrole, in your position?
Maybe not.
Again, depends on what yourposition is, but there's some
varying opinions on it.
Put it that way, I'm not theexpert, I just bring people on
the show.
Let them share their opinion.
I think I'm actually in yourfavor here on this one, because
(20:50):
a lot of people, especially atthe young age, are consuming
crazy amounts of, frankly crap,the carbs that they're consuming
.
It's like, oh yeah, throw backa bunch of Smuckers, what are
those Uncrustables?
And you're like oh, what arethe big ones that all the
football teams are crushing now?
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Butter, they do the, they do the.
The mass gainer, it's like, ohmy gosh, that's like so calorie
when you they need it to gainweight.
Absolutely, it's just not.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I'm not particularly in feeling the way trying to
cram their you know stomachsevery day yeah, well, and
there's something to be said forperforming and not having your
body constantly be in a state oftrying to digest.
You know, there's like that'sit's tough to put out your best
self when you've got, you know,a bunch of calories in your
stomach trying to digest.
(21:40):
What would you be doing if youweren't playing football right
now, cruz, if you weren'ttricking, if you weren't jumping
?
I feel like you've got theability to create content to get
people absorbed into whateveryou're doing, whether you're
parkouring, whether you'rekicking 50-yard field goals.
Is there something that youhaven't done yet that you want
(22:01):
to do?
I always am curious, becausepeople play their sport, they do
the things that they're kind ofquote-unquote, supposed to do.
What would you do if you didn'thave those things?
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Well, going back to social media, like I think I
think it's a bad thing if youweren't going to compare
yourself, but it's a good thingif you kind of get a little
envious, not overly envious, buta little bit.
So I see stuff every single dayLike dude, I need to be like
that guy.
I got to get big, big, I gottaget more money, I gotta do this
(22:37):
and that.
So to answer the question,would I?
I don't, I don't really knowwhat I would do if I wasn't
doing the stuff I was doing outwith the flips and stuff,
because at that point I'd haveto question whether I am myself
if I wasn't doing that stuff.
Because I think it's just youknow the mindset and discipline
that brought me to the pointwhere I am at.
There's some cool stuff I wantto do, I want to go skydiving
and stuff.
I'm certainly not content withwhere I'm at because I want to
(22:58):
grow with the base that I'mbuilt, but I don't think I'd be
myself.
I don't know what I'd be doingif I wasn't doing the stuff I
was doing.
Now, that's what I'm trying tosay.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
No, that's good, that what I'd be doing if I wasn't
doing the stuff I was doing now.
That's what I'm trying to say.
No, that's good.
That means you are staying trueto yourself and you're not
doing this because your parentspushed you in one direction.
I bring it up because my buddy,Brian Wallach, here in British
Columbia you might have seen himon Instagram.
He's a big six foot seven gymshark athlete.
He's kind of playing offlooking like David Laid doing
some Ashton Hall videos.
Uh, he's had like half amillion followers right now on
(23:32):
Instagram.
I'm a little envious of himright now, Cause we're training,
we're at fitness world at 6.00AM and Sam, you know here and
I'm like man, this guy isblowing up but he's putting in
the work, he's putting in theeffort, he's put in the time,
he's dedicated.
He's been doing it for yearsnow and you know that's a
testament to hard work,dedication, like you said, and
(23:52):
that's what it comes from.
It doesn't happen overnight.
People see on socials and theythink it's like an instant form
of becoming a celebrity, butthey don't see the years of work
prior where you know you wereposting every day and people
didn't necessarily see yourcontent every day.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, most definitely For um, for sure.
Yeah, it's just all aboutgrinding what's uh?
Speaker 3 (24:17):
what's your biggest motivation?
Do you think your uh?
Your mom or your dad?
Are they living locally to you?
Are they still in like northamerica?
Do you go back to turkey everycouple years?
Speaker 1 (24:29):
yeah, they're in miss Mississippi, about two hours
south of me right now.
So yeah, I'm in Memphis at themoment.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Okay, well, hey, dude , I know you got your camp in a
week that you're going to begoing and kicking putting up
performance in front of thecoaching staff.
I always like to give people anopportunity to share their
biggest piece of advice with thenext generation of athletes.
As the 261st guest podcastappearance on the show, I'd love
to leave the floor for you toshare what that biggest piece is
(24:58):
for you.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Okay, I might not have remembered the Arnold quote
, but I do remember a littleWayne quote.
He said what's a little Waynedude?
I can't remember whatever, butsomebody said.
Someone said said you alwayshave to do it your way.
Always have to do it your way.
Like you're gonna hear people,you're gonna even hear your
parents, you're gonna hear your,your friends that you might
think are close to you trying toget in your head.
(25:21):
No, no, don't you should.
I'm not saying don't takeadvice, but you should always do
your way.
And every decision, every bigdecision, every small decision
that I made in my life led tothe point where I'm at right now
.
There's been times where, whenI was transferred from delta
state, like dude, my footballcareer is over, like, but I'm
gonna.
I'm gonna bet on myself.
I've got a gambling addiction,so I'm gonna bet on myself that
(25:44):
I'm gonna go fbs and I'm gonnaaccomplish my dreams and I'm
gonna look good on social mediaand I'm gonna have all this
money.
There's it.
You should always do it yourway.
That's, that's the best pieceof advice I can give speaking
and speaking it into existence.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Brother, I can't wait to see it.
I can't wait to see it.
I'm excited for you, dude.
Uh, I know this is just thebeginning.
It's gonna be cool to continueto watch.
Follow along.
Um, I appreciate you coming onthe podcast for sharing your
story, for providing someinsights to the next generation.
We'll get you on again whenyou're at that million.
Maybe we'll go for a ride inthe Lambo.
I got the Jeep here in BritishColumbia Thanks to Pioneer Auto
(26:19):
Group.
If you're ever up in BritishColumbia or Canada, you better
let me know.
We'll do some tricking or I'llat least watch you trick jump
around, and then we'll get inthe Jeep record.
Another, another episode, yocruz, oh, who's.
Thank you for coming on theathletes podcast man sincerely
appreciate it thank you so muchfor having me all right,
everybody that'll do it here forus today at the athletes
podcast.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Really hope you guys enjoyed.
Cruz is an awesome guy.
He's gonna do some awesomethings.
Hopefully dave can get him inthe jeep sometime soon get him
up to bc.
But that's gonna do it for us.
Comment, subscribe, doeverything you can to amplify
our podcast.
You know it means so much to us.
It lets us keep doing theseawesome things.
Having these awesomeconversations means the world to
us.
So again, keep supporting usand we're going to keep doing
(27:00):
some awesome things for you guys.
Again, have a good one.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.