When Joe met Davina: The duo you never knew you needed

What winds Joe Marler up? What motivates Davina McCall to stay healthy? And just how does she take her tea?

Find out what really happened when Joe met Davina as we invite you behind the scenes to see our own very power duo comparing notes on their go-to Ancient + Brave rituals for living a life full of bravery, strength and vitality.

Joe Marler on Brave Ancestral Protein: Endurance for life, elevated 

At Ancient + Brave, we believe that strength goes beyond the gym. From parenting to presentations, every day asks for a different kind of strength. 

Joe Marler knows this all too well. Parent, patron and podcast presenter, his days demand a lot from him. That’s why he keeps his body strong and his endurance elevated with plenty of protein - and why he’s moved away from traditional whey to Brave Ancestral Protein, a nutrient-dense beef isolate protein inspired by ancestral nutrition. 

This daily ritual has been carefully crafted to help you top up your daily protein intake, helping you meet the demands of your day.

Key ingredients:

• Grass-fed beef isolate provides gentle, complete protein 

• B vitamins help support energy and reduce fatigue

• Actazin® green kiwifruit aids smooth protein digestion

• Cacao, Beetroot, Carob, and Cinnamon add a naturally indulgent flavour

Davina will be pleased to know that we’ve included her hero True Collagen type I collagen peptides in this blend, supporting your journey to whole-body health.

“The old proteins that I used to take were very sweet, artificial. This isn’t whey, this is beef, way more wholesome and rich, you need it for everyday strength.” - Joe Marler.

True Collagen: Davina’s go-to ritual 

Davina McCall starts her day with True Collagen, a ritual she never skips to support her active lifestyle and her wellbeing. 

When Joe asks Davina what’s so good about True Collagen, her answer explores how her reasons for taking collagen have evolved over the years. Ultimately, she takes it to look after herself so that she can stay active and stay present in her family’s life.

Describing it as her “non-negotiable” alongside True Creatine+, Davina explains to Joe that there’s a whole list of reasons why  Ancient + Brave True Collagen is the only collagen that she trusts: 

+No filler ingredients 

+Responsible sourced ingredients 

+ Independently tested and proven to work 

+ Easy to make part of your daily routine

“True Collagen is the only collagen that I like. I take it as an inside and an outside job to look after myself in all the ways.” - Davina McCall

Bovine Protein vs Bovine Collagen Peptides 

Both contribute to wellbeing, but in different ways. Pairing them can help you cover your foundational bases. 

Why pair collagen with protein powder: The power duo you never knew you needed

Are you a True Collagen devotee, like Davina? Perhaps you prefer to pack in the protein, like Joe. Whatever your preference, making these tools for resilience part of your wellbeing ritual is a great way to help you live the life you want for longer. They also pair together beautifully.

+ Complete protein: Brave Ancestral Protein provides all nine essential amino acids, helping with everyday strength, energy, and endurance.

+ Structural support: Type I hydrolysed collagen delivers glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, contributing to connective tissue health.

+ Complementary effects: Collagen and protein naturally belong to the same family and both decline with age. Pairing them is a simple way to help maintain strength and vitality.

How to take True Collagen + Brave Ancestral Protein Together?

Meeting your daily strength needs doesn’t need to be complicated, but it can make a meaningful difference, especially on days when you don’t get enough protein from your diet alone. 

Brave Ancestral Protein contains a small 2g of collagen, which pairs perfectly with a full scoop of True Collagen to meet your daily intake. 

You’ll find both True Collagen and Brave Ancestral Protein in our Protein Power Duo. Carefully curated by our expert nutrition team, this also includes our Ritual Scoop and our Ancestral Protein Scoop, making it easy to get the perfect dose into your day.

Simply Add 2 Protein Scoops of Brave Ancestral Protein and one Ritual Scoop of True Collagen to a smoothie, oats or a warm beverage as part of you high-protein breakfast ritual,Just be mindful that the Actazin® used in Brave Ancestral Protein natural is somewhat sensitive to heat, so it's best stirred into warm foods after boiling and not baked.

FAQs 

Short on time? Get the answers to your protein questions at a glance.

Does collagen count towards your protein intake?

Yes. Type I Collagen Peptides, although not a complete protein, help towards your protein intake as well as supporting bones, ligaments and tendons - all key to helping you train, lift and challenge yourself.

Is collagen protein good for building muscles?

Collagen can contribute to joint and muscle health, but works best alongside a complete protein, such as the beef isolate used in Brave Ancestral Protein.

What is Brave Ancestral Protein? 

Brave Ancestral Protein is a nutrient-dense, easy-to-digest protein powder that helps you meet your daily protein needs. With Actazin® green kiwifruit for comfortable digestion, True Collagen for connective tissue support, and natural micronutrients from grass-fed liver and kidney this modern take on ancestral nutrition to help you feel your most resilient self.

Can you take collagen and protein together?

Yes, it is safe to take collagen and protein powder together. You’ll find True Collagen and Brave Ancestral Protein in our Protein Power Duo, which is the perfect ritual for supporting strength, repair and joint recovery.

How to take True Collagen + Brave Ancestral Protein Together?

The easiest way to take collagen and protein together is in a smoothie. You can also bake them into protein pancakes or add them to your protein coffee.