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Dr. Zak Zafrani joins us for a conversation that breaks open a topic rarely discussed in sport: testosterone deficiency in men, especially in aging athletes. If you're feeling tired, low on drive, or like you're losing your edge long before you should, this episode will make you rethink what's “normal.”

Zak is a UK-based doctor with a background in family medicine, sports injuries, and hormone health. He’s one of the few experts bridging the gap between athletes and men’s hormone therapy.

From elite-level competitors to weekend warriors, too many men suffer in silence. This conversation is about equipping you to ask better questions, get tested early, and understand the difference between clinical testosterone replacement and performance-enhancing drug use. Whether you're still playing or transitioning out of sport, this episode gives you a whole new lens to understand your body and performance.

What You’ll Hear

The difference between testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and steroid use

Why symptoms like fatigue, low motivation, and brain fog might not be “just getting older”

How concussions, overtraining, and endurance sports can lead to hormone imbalance

- The red tape and stigma that stop many men from getting tested, especially in public health systems

- Why Zak believes athletes should get baseline testosterone tests early in their careers

- Real-life case studies where low testosterone was misdiagnosed as depression

- What makes testosterone deficiency hard to diagnose and easy to dismiss

- How retired athletes struggle to train the same way and why identity plays a role in burnout

- Natural ways to support healthy testosterone levels through sleep, nutrition, and training

- What the “enhanced games” reveal about public perception, performance, and health risks

- The long-term risks of anabolic steroid abuse and why it often leads to lifelong hormone treatment

- Why more doctors are finally taking men’s health seriously and what still needs to change

Golden Nugget

“Retirement starts at 18. That plan starts at 18. You won’t want to hear it at the start of your career, but if you’re not checking your levels, building your network, and looking at the long game, you’ll wake up at 40 wondering what happened.”

Want to go deeper?

If you are navigating what is next in sport or beyond, visit www.2ndwind.io
to learn more or book a consult.