Intro:
Twelve-year-old quarterback Marz Lopez, aka "50 West Cowboy," sits down with Dr. Civelli to talk about life as a young athlete with NFL dreams — his training, his diet, his family, and his honest curiosity about how to grow taller and build muscle. The conversation turns into a real, protective breakdown of why performance-enhancing drugs are dangerous for a still-developing body, plus a detour into mitochondria and an attempted chess match.
Topics covered:
- 00:00 – Meeting Marz: quarterback, "50 West Cowboy," seventh grader
- 00:56 – A day in the life: routine, breakfast, school
- 02:30 – Football, playing quarterback, and the NFL dream
- 02:57 – Family life: twin sister Armani, younger brother, and good genes
- 04:09 – A quick check on dad's health history
- 06:04 – Working out, staying fit, and the weightlifting-and-height myth
- 07:44 – Travel for football camps: San Diego, San Jose, LA
- 09:14 – Wanting to gain weight and eat enough protein
- 10:04 – Building a real nutrition plan: protein targets, greens, sleep
- 12:32 – The big question: performance enhancement and testosterone
- 13:06 – What actually happens to a teenage body on steroids
- 14:46 – Marz's favorite topic: mitochondria, explained simply
- 20:22 – An attempted chess lesson
What is White Coat Black Sheep?
Hosted by Dr. Val Civelli, White Coat Black Sheep explores physiology, functional medicine, and the medical questions most people are told not to ask.
This is where evidence meets curiosity, where dogma gets uncomfortable, and where real world medicine takes priority over headlines.
From understanding your lab work to debunking hormone myths, medication misconceptions, and optimization strategies, this podcast helps you understand what is actually happening inside your body.
If you care about health and think there might be a better way to practice medicine, you’re in the right place.