Is Athleticism a Birthright? Mike Israetel's Take Examined
Mark Bell's Power Project
Power Project Studios
4.8 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 24 November 2025
⏱️ 72 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, Mark Bell, Nsima, and guest Marshall Jones unpack a spicy claim making the rounds: “When you’re a good athlete and you’re Black, that’s your birthright.” We push past hot-takes to ask what really shapes performance—genetics, culture, environment, reps, or all of the above? Along the way we hit stereotype threat, why “raw talent” can be a backhanded compliment, how music/rhythm cultures translate to movement, and why focusing on work you can do beats obsessing over gifts you can’t control.Follow Marshall Jones: @marshalldavisjonesCHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro02:10 - Reacting to Mike Israetel05:52 - Understanding Stereotype Threat11:36 - Success: Environment vs. Genetics17:49 - The Role of Genetics in Success20:10 - Words and Mindset Impact27:40 - Essential Equipment for Success28:28 - Interview with Mike Israetel28:54 - Your Body's Potential29:18 - Analyzing Gordon Ryan’s Athleticism30:10 - Defining the Word “Athlete”32:40 - Gordon Ryan’s Jiu Jitsu System41:25 - Learning to Dance: A Process43:50 - The Biological Benefits of Music48:36 - Methylene Blue Benefits51:54 - Exploring Unfair Advantages55:43 - Genetics and Racial Factors1:00:50 - Environmental Influences on Success1:03:16 - Expanding the Gene Pool1:04:15 - Was Steve Nash Born Gifted?1:05:48 - Key Takeaways for the Audience1:11:53 - Outro🥩 HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN! 🍖 ➢ https://goodlifeproteins.com/ Code POWER to save 20% off site wide, or code POWERPROJECT to save an additional 5% off your Build a Box Subscription!🩸 Get your BLOODWORK Done! 🩸 ➢ https://marekhealth.com/PowerProject to receive 10% off our Panel, Check Up Panel or any custom panel, and use code POWERPROJECT for 10% off any lab!🧠 Methylene Blue: Better Focus, Sleep and Mood 🧠 Use Code POWER10 for 10% off!➢https://troscriptions.com?utm_source=affiliate&ut-m_medium=podcast&ut-m_campaign=MarkBel-I_podcastBest 5 Finger Barefoot Shoes! 👟 ➢ https://Peluva.com/PowerProject Code POWERPROJECT15 to save 15% off Peluva Shoes!Self Explanatory 🍆 ➢ Enlarging Pumps (This really works): https://bit.ly/powerproject1Pumps explained: https://youtu.be/qPG9JXjlhpM?si=JZN09-FakTjoJuaW🚨 The Best Red Light Therapy Devices and Blue Blocking Glasses On The Market! 😎➢https://emr-tek.com/Use code: POWERPROJECT to save 20% off your order!👟 BEST LOOKING AND FUNCTIONING BAREFOOT SHOES 🦶➢https://vivobarefoot.com/powerproject🥶 The Best Cold Plunge Money Can Buy 🥶 ➢ https://thecoldplunge.com/ Code POWERPROJECT to save $150!!➢ https://withinyoubrand.com/ Code POWERPROJECT to save 15% off supplements!➢ https://markbellslingshot.com/ Code POWERPROJECT to save 15% off all gear and apparel!Follow Mark Bell's Power Project Podcast➢ https://www.PowerProject.live➢ https://lnk.to/PowerProjectPodcast➢ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/markbellspowerproject➢ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/markbellspowerproject
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | When you're a good athlete and you're black, you're just black. That's your birthright. |
| 0:04.8 | This idea is constantly put forward about not just black people, but many people. It makes your |
| 0:09.1 | life a little easier by just saying, oh, this person or those people have it easier. |
| 0:13.7 | Sometimes you feel like you want to discredit how they won because it makes you feel better |
| 0:17.6 | about losing. We hear white privilege, but I think there's different privileges of different ethnicities and races. |
| 0:23.3 | Imagine thinking that you couldn't learn something from someone like a Michael Jordan because you're just like, |
| 0:28.1 | oh, he was born perfect. |
| 0:29.6 | If there's a certain person that grew up in a neighborhood of a bunch of people that don't dance |
| 0:34.0 | and don't listen to highly rhythmic music with tons of drums and beats and |
| 0:38.1 | things that you have to coordinate your body to, that person would not have the coordination |
| 0:42.2 | and the ability to dance. |
| 0:43.2 | I think when most people talk about athleticism, what they mean is a totally subconscious |
| 0:47.6 | fluidity of movement and balance. |
| 0:49.5 | It requires absolutely zero logical forward planning. |
| 0:53.5 | It appears that there's differences genetically across races. |
| 0:57.3 | If you spend enough time in the sun, my friend, and I spend that same amount of time |
| 1:00.3 | in the sun, we're going to cook differently. |
| 1:02.5 | What we got here in Seema? |
| 1:03.7 | All right. |
| 1:04.0 | So in this episode, we're going to talk about a few things. |
| 1:08.2 | But first I want to say, Mike Isertel has been getting themselves |
| 1:11.0 | to hot five for PhD stuff and whatever. This isn't going to be about that. I just think, |
... |
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