Physical Preparation Podcast Archives - Robertson Training Systems

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/stephen-calarco-gen-pop-pod/

Today I sit down with my good friend Stephen Calarco to talk about what really helps gen pop clients make progress.

We unpack a few key items in this episode:

• Why more gym time isn’t always the answer,
• How to get clear on what a goal actually requires, and
• Why nutrition habits, sleep, and life outside the gym matter just as much as the workout.

We also dive into the human side of coaching: How your words can build confidence or reinforce negative self-talk, when a coach should listen versus refer out, and how to cut through the noise of social media.

If you listen to this entire episode you’ll come away with practical strategies to coach with more empathy, hold clients accountable, and help them build fitness that supports a better life.

Quotable Quotes:

You can’t negotiate with what your goals require

The three hours you see me every week isn’t going to compete with the hundred and sixty five hours of noise you’re getting elsewhere

I would rather you only come in the gym three days a week and take those extra two hours to go home and meal prep

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Stephen Calarco: Husband, father, and owner of The Strength Spot in Hartford.
• The foundational basics of general-population training: clarity, intent, and what really moves the needle
• Thoughts on body recomposition, and why your clients have to understand what their goals REALLY require
• Why meal prepping is such a critical piece of the body comp puzzle
• How small comments can give you big insights into how your clients think about themselves
• Where to draw the line between coaching and therapy
• How to hold clients accountable without shame or guilt (and why EVERY client is unique here)
• Cutting through the noise of social media as a coach
• How to maximize your continuing education time and budget
• How fatherhood changed his Stephen’s training priorities, and what “strong enough” means to him now.
• And last but not least, Stephen hit ME with a lightning round where we talk coaching, smoked meats, and training music!

Connect with Stephen:

• The Strength Spot on IG

Related Links:

• 5 Love Languages Book

Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press!

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

http://pushpress.com/ppp

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to http://pushpress.com/ppp.

Subscribe, Rate & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Stephen Calarco on Earned Empathy, Accountability, and Moving the Needle with Gen Pop Clients appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/joel-jamieson-cvd-podcast/

Today, I’ve got my good friend Joel Jamieson back for his final stop on the podcast!

In this episode, we explore the science and practice of training for a longer, healthier life.

As the title implies we spend a great deal of time covering cardiovascular disease, but we also discuss the differences between high- and low-intensity cardio, how to optimize your training schedule, and the differences between training men and women.

Joel brings decades of coaching experience and a research-driven perspective, and after listening to this episode I’m confident you’ll have a better understanding of what actually moves the needle for performance, health, and longevity!

Quotable Quotes:

Exercise is a powerful tool because it helps prevent cardiovascular disease, dementia, cancer risk and millions of other things – but it doesn’t stop the plaque.

If most people train 4 days per week, they think they’ll do 3 lifts and 1 cardio session. But if your goal is health and longevity, or you want to live as long as possible, and be as healthy as possible, you have to invert that.

The earlier you treat your progression of cardiovascular disease, the better off you are.

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Joel’s journey from strength coach to healthy and longevity mastermind
• Why he built Morpheus, and why it’s designed to help you optimize YOUR personal fitness
• The family history that changed Joel’s view of heart disease
• Why fit people are NOT immune to cardiovascular disease
• Joel gets a little nerdy on the types of cholesterol, and what to look for if you’re worried about tracking your numbers
• Why exercise helps stabilize plaque—but may not stop it
• High- vs Low-Intensity Cardio: Which is best? And how might both fit into your program?
• The EXACT weekly schedule Joel would use if he wanted to promote longevity and healthy aging
• Why most people probably need LESS strength training than they think (and the research to support it)
• Should men and women train differently? Why individual data beats aone-size-fits-all fitness advice

Connect with Joel:

• Train with Morpheus Website
• Joel on IG

Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic!

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

https://trainheroic.co/rtsTo learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Joel Jamieson on Cardiovascular Disease, Longevity Training, and Avoiding the Law of Averages appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/andy-luka-built-to-last/

Do you want to build a better coaching business?

Level up your gym?

Or simply take your game to the next level?

If so, you need to listen to this podcast NOW!

While I’ve had both Luka and Andy on numerous times before, it definitely takes it to another level when they’re on the show together.

And in this episode, we’re going to dive into the three core competencies that every high-level business must develop to achieve greatness.

So without any further ado, let’s dive in!

Quotable Quotes:

If you become a great coach first, it transfers really well into every other area of running a business

Operational excellence is the management and organization of the people, the processes, the performance and outcomes that are created

Your product is THE MOST important thing

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Quick intros from Andy and Luka, and props to Andy for hitting 25 years at BCI and Luka at 20+ in Slovenia!
• The importance and power of becoming a great coach FIRST
• And a corollary: Why even great marketing can’t save a weak product
• The “trip over your own truth” moment – when numbers expose the real problem in your business
• What is “Operational excellence?” And why is it the hidden engine behind real growth?
• Real Talk: Most gym owners don’t know what they don’t know
• Dream gym, Dream life: How to build backward from the life you actually want
• The power of personal leadership, and becoming the person the business requires
• Why your business will only grows as much as its leader

Connect with Andy and Luka:

• Andy on Instagram
• Luka on Instagram
• Built to Last Gym Website

Books Mentioned:

• Extreme Ownership
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things
• Radical Candor
• 10-25
• Turn the Ship Around

Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic!

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

https://trainheroic.co/rtsTo learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post 3 Core Competencies You MUST Develop to Build a Gym That Lasts (with Andy and Luka) appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/bill-hartman-rtp-podcast/

I’ve got a good one for you today my friend!

Bill Hartman brings 35 years of experience, and more importantly, a totally unique way of thinking about rehab, performance, and movement.

In our conversation, we take a deep dive into how he moved from standard, rule-based systems to a principle-driven framework called the UHP that helps him make better decisions with less guesswork.

Along the way, we get into the bigger ideas behind his model—why shape and position matter, how the whole system influences performance, and why the best solutions often come from understanding movement in context rather than chasing isolated fixes.

It’s always great to get Bill back on the show, and I promise this one won’t disappoint.

Let’s dive in!

Quotable Quotes:

I got frustrated because I kept hitting dead ends – so I scrapped everything and started from scratch

The minute you start adding resistance, you’re adding a challenge where the load becomes the constraint

It’s not just about “pushing this thing” – It’s like “hold this position as you do something”

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Bill’s background and how he got started in the PT and S&C worlds
• His shift from rigid rules to principle-based thinking, and why frustration pushed him to build a new model.
• Why the goal of training or PT is better reasoning, NOT perfect prediction
• How the model has evolved over time, but the core principles have stayed the same
• Bill’s approach to evaluating in the return to play process
• Why you MUST know and understand the injury, the constraints, and the specific demands of the sport
• A big consideration: Injuries are rarely isolated, and why you have to look at all the pieces of the puzzle when creating a RTP program
• How external load can become a constraint – and that can be a good OR bad thing (depending on how it’s applied)
• Table Tests: Why Bill uses them, and what he wants to get out of them
• How to take the information from table tests and apply it to your standard gym exercises (squats, lunges, etc.)
• Why all table tests are inherently “dirty”
• The power of consolidating change and stabilizing an athlete before progressing them
• How manual techniques and mobilizations fit into Bill’s treatment programs these days
• Final thoughts, and how you can learn more about Bill’s work!

Connect with Bill:

• UHP Network
• Recon Programming

Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic!

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

https://trainheroic.co/rtsTo learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Bill Hartman on Movement Models, Return to Play, and Playing the Probabilities appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/june-qa-2/

Okay my friend, we’re back for Round #2 this week!

Last week, I had some AWESOME questions for the show, so that made for a fun episode that got a ton of positive feedback.

But I got so many good questions about assessments and return to play, I wanted to put all those into a second Q&A episode for this week!

Here we’ll not only cover my assessment process for both gen pop clients and athletes, but also take a deep dive into return to play – and how to navigate those waters with both a ton of OR minimal technology and resources.

There’s a ton of ground to cover here so let’s dive in!

Quotable Quotes:

If you don’t have the mobility and you’ve got extra fluid in your knee, you’re not going to have optimal strength

Start with a CMJ first, and then, when they’re ready for it, the better test for return to sport is the CMJ rebound

Don’t let a lack of resources hold you back. If you can dial in the details, I think in a lot of cases, you’re gonna get 90% of what you need to out of the rehab process without a ton of tech.

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• How to get assess and get GREAT results in return to play (RTP) with minimal tech and resources
• The 6 “steps” every RTP athlete needs to go through to get back to 100%
• An overview of my assessment process with both gen pop clients and athletes
• How I’ve evolved my basketball assessment to dive in to the specific needs of hoopers
• The technology and tools I use to evaluate my athletes
• Specific tests and metrics I use for clearing athletes on my end in a RTP setting
• The cadence that I’ve found works best when collaborating on an athletes injury
• How to make an RTP collab work when the practitioners aren’t in the same location
• The Stack, Slide and Swivel approach to bulletproofing knees
• What changes when I’m writing an R7 program for basketball versus a “standard” program
• The physics of lateral movement, and why the medial heel and arch are such key pieces to the puzzle

Related Links:

• Mike on the Informed Performance Podcast
• 3’s for Stronger Knees: Stack, Slide and Swivel Knee Article
• Complete Coach Certification
• Optimizing Movement Workshop Recordings

Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates!

https://www.hawkindynamics.com/rtsHawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post June Q&A #2: Performance Assessments, Return to Play, and Optimizing Knee Health appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/june-qa-podcast-1/

I asked, and you answered the bell!

In fact, I got SO MANY questions from this Q&A podcast that I had to break it up into two separate episodes.

In today’s show, I put 45-minutes on the clock and knock out as many questions as I can get to.

So whether you’re interested in learning more about mobility, speed training for young athletes, or why I charge for my mentorship programs and services, I cover a TON of materials in this quick hitting and informative show.

Let’s dive in!

Quotable Quotes:

The best programs are vertically integrated, but think of them as levers or dials? Not all of them are at a level 10 in every training block

Recovery becomes a real issue if your training sessions are pushing two, two and a half, or three hours every time you’re in the gym

If you find value in something, you’ll find a way to get it done

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Are topics like flexibility and mobility covered in the Complete Coach Cert?
• How do I integrate progression into my programs?
• Building programs for hybrid athletes that cover strength, power, conditioning, etc.
• Becoming a better communicator
• Tips on becoming more empathetic and understanding with your clients/athletes
• How I structure speed development sessions with groups of 12-14 year old athletes
• The SDC (Skill-Drill-Compete) framework I use for speed training
• How important is it to do an assessment with your clients/athletes?
• Thoughts on improving thoracic mobility
• Quick update/life recap on how I’m doing LOL
• Recovery strategies for young athletes who are playing multiple times in one day/weekend
• Structuring well-rounded programs for gen pop clients
• How I define a “high stim” day
• Helping athletes get faster in the 60-yard dash
• Final (and most heated) question: Why do I charge for my mentorship?

Related Links:

• Speed Camp Podcast
• Shoulder Mobility Video
• Alwyn Cosgrove Podcast

Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic!

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

https://trainheroic.co/rtsTo learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post June Q&A: Professional Mentorship, Unlocking Mobility, and Speed Training for Young Athletes appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/tanner-care-podcast/%20

Tanner Care is the Director of Performance for both the BC Lions and the Vancouver Bandits, and over the past couple of months, I’ve really enjoyed learning more about his thought process and approach.

So why not bring him on the podcast and dive a little deeper?

In this episode of the show, Tanner outlines his comprehensive approach to training basketball players.

Whether it’s using force plate assessments to drive his program design, or simply being more effective with our in-season and foot/ankle specific training, I really think there’s something in the episode of everyone.

Let’s dive in!

Quotable Quotes:

The Natera run-specifics ISO’s were great because it allowed me to broaden my lens, and ultimately provide clarity as to where these athletes are potentially deficient

I want to have a relationship so I can – at the very least – transfer their data and show what we’ve kind of mapped out over of the summer

I talk to my athletes all the time about this notion of poison and antidote. If we look at the sporting demands of basketball, it is a ton of breaking forces, a ton of accels and decels, and that’s going to impose a very large demand on the body – so we need to know what the antidote is

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Tanner’s background and his current role with not one but TWO professional sports teams
• His overarching training philosophy and focus on athletic adaptation
• The assessment process he uses to onboard and test his incoming athletes
• How he buckets athletes based on his assessment to drive better adaptations
• Tanner’s thought process on integrating and collaborating with the team sports staff
• Navigating the (always tumultuous) in-season period
• The power of isometric training in-season
• Why he originally became fascinated with foot and ankle training
• Low-hanging fruit with regards to improving foot and ankle function
• And last but not least, some key takeaways for young and aspiring coaches!

Connect with Tanner:

• Tanner on Instagram

Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates!

https://www.hawkindynamics.com/rtsHawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Tanner Care on Foot Strength, In-Season Training, and Unlocking an Athletes Superpowers appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/7-things-im-thinking-about/%20

I’m baaaaccckkkk! Did you miss me?

It’s been a minute since I did a solo show, so I figured it was time to jump back in and hit you with some of the good stuff.

Here we’re going to dive into seven things I’ve been thinking about lately, which are sandwiched between some random work and life updates as well.

So without any further ado, let’s dive in and talk shop!

Quotable Quotes:

I think one of my goals with IFAST Basketball is to just help the next generation of hoopers move better than we did

You can’t let athletes get hurt in the weight room. Like Joe Ken and I used to say, we (the strength coaches) are the often sane person in the room

For me, the most important thing is creating content versus consuming it – it’s trying to be more signal and not a part of the noise

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Work updates: IFAST Basketball, podcast notes, and the Optimizing Movement Workshop videos are coming soon!
• Updated thought: Should you write all your programs at once?
• Programming plyos (especially deep tier) and a shout out to Matt McInnes Watson
• How I’m evolving my basketball-specific performance assessment
• Random thought: Are we really doing great work with our young athletes? And are we really developing them like we should?
• Using normative data to profile athletes and guide program design
• The power of the HEELS in sport
• Doing my best to focus more on the SIGNAL and less on the NOISE

Related Links:

• Drake Berberet D1 Basketball Normative Data Research

Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press!

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

http://pushpress.com/ppp

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to http://pushpress.com/ppp.

Subscribe, Rate & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post 7 Things I’m Thinking About (And Work/Life Updates) appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/austin-ulrich-podcast/

In this episode, Austin Ulrich shares how a curiosity-driven approach transformed his understanding of movement and patient care.

His journey from powerlifter to clinical innovator reveals how traditional education often falls short, and how a mindset of lifelong learning is key to growth.

For Austin, questioning traditional biomechanical models and diving into foundational sciences like physics, biology and chemistry have lead to more effective treatment strategies – and better outcomes.

This episode will inspire you to to rethink movement, reimagine your PT practice, and reignite your passion for helping others move better than ever.

Quotable Quotes:

Because of my experiences, I’m a more curious and creative individual, and I love the work I do now. I’m always questioning things and trying to understand at a deeper level.

It’s a never-ending process. There’s no finish line. And I wouldn’t want there to be.

It’s just a whole different culture at IFAST, but the same time, you’re constantly trying to get better.

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Austin’s journey as a strength coach, personal trainer, and now physical therapist
• How randomly deciding to intern at IFAST changed his career path – and outlook – forever
• Why removing constraints can unleash your potential as a coach or therapist
• The transformative power of mentorship, and why all of us should be looking to learn from others
• Why traditional biomechanical models and “Dead Guy Anatomy” simply don’t add up
• The value of continuous learning, and specifically, diving into the core sciences
• How he runs his cash-based PT practice and gets to blend PT and S&C
• The power of individualized care and creating environments that lead to success
• Austin’s advice to aspiring physical therapists to create a career that they love!

Connect with Austin:

• Austin’s Website
• Austin on IG

Related Links:

• The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
• Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life
• 4 Phases of Water
• 7 Brief Lessons on Physics
• Discovery of Slowness

Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic!

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

https://trainheroic.co/rtsTo learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Austin Ulrich on Mental Models, Lifelong Learning, and Cash-Based Physical Therapy appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/eric-cressey-podcast-5/

Today I’ve got the man, the myth, the LEGEND Eric Cressey on the podcast.

Now you may know Eric as the Director of Player Health and Performance for the New York Yankees, or for his incredibly successful gym, Cressey Sports Performance.

But in case you didn’t know, Eric and I go waaaaayyyy back.

If you watch the video, you’ll see I actually pull out the old DVD’s we created together back in the early 2000’s and 2010’s.

But now that we’ve both been in the game 20+ years, what have we learned along the way?

How are young athletes more broken than ever before?

How can we use technology to positively impact our assessments and programming?

And perhaps most importantly, what can we do as trainers and coaches to help shape the next generation of young coaches and athletes?

We cover all that – and much more – in this week’s episode of the Physical Preparation Podcast!

Quotable Quotes:

You have to solve a problem, and you have to consistently over deliver on value – and I don’t think people who cut corners will ever do that.

The most important thing that we can do for kids is we’ve got to expose them to a wide variety of stimuli. We’ve got to make them curious about figuring out movement problems

We’re seeing more and more college baseball players taking Toradol to get through a season…these kids are more broken than ever before in the college ranks

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Eric’s background and how he initially got into the S&C game
• The challenges parents face in the youth sports landscape – especially as he and I have now seen it from every perspective!
• Why exposing kids to diverse stimuli to develop curiosity and problem-solving are so critical to long-term development
• Injury rates are going through the roof, and what some college players are doing just to get through a season (this will actually shock you)
• How to scale a business the right way, and the limiting factor most people never think to consider when building their business
• The power of playing the long-game in coaching, and why you simply can’t win with shortcuts
• How to balance building strength with maintaining movement capacity in rotational sports athletes
• Why technology can be so useful in building better athletes, but understanding it’s not the only tool in your toolbox
• The power of consistently investing in staff development and growth
• Finally, why we all need genuine human connection and mentorship in coaching!

Connect with XYZ:

• https://ericcressey.com/
• Eric on Instagram

Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates!

https://www.hawkindynamics.com/rtsHawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Eric Cressey on Athletic Development, Sports Science, and Becoming a Great Coach appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/ben-sporer-podcast/

With over 30 years in high performance sport, Ben Sporer has seen what it takes to be successful at the highest level of sport.

From Canadian Olympic athletes to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS, Ben has made a career on being clear and intentional about the goals of his program.

So where do we go wrong when writing programs?

Are we too caught up in the 1% that we’re missing the long hanging fruit?

Or are we too enamored with cool recovery modalities that we’re actually NOT getting the training adaptations we want?

We cover all that – and much more – in this week’s episode of the Physical Prep Podcast!

Quotable Quotes:

Performance is an output. It’s not an outcome. It’s an expression of a bunch of integrated factors in a moment to try to achieve an objective.

Marginal gains matter only when they actually matter. Fundamentals first, marginal gains second.

Integration is a verb, it’s an action. It requires people to actually talk.

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Ben’s pioneering role as the first full-time paid physiologist for Olympic sports in Canada.
• His transition from strength coaching in hockey to leading performance strategies for Olympic and professional sports teams.
• Why Ben believes that “performance is an output, not an outcome.”
• The importance of mastering fundamentals FIRST (or again!) before focusing on marginal gains
• What is “net performance impact?” And how can you use it to evaluate training and recovery strategies?
• Ben’s emphasis on recovery being as intentional and rigorous as training itself.
• The distinction between multidisciplinary and integrated teams, and the need for active communication across domains
• Challenges and strategies you’ll see when customizing training programs for individual athletes within team environments.
• The importance of clear objectives and context in performance planning.
• Ben’s approach to balancing training and recovery, including the strategic use of recovery periods.

Connect with Ben:

• Ben on LinkedIn
• Resync Consulting
• OutputBook
• Output Book on Instagram

Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press!

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

http://pushpress.com/ppp

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to http://pushpress.com/ppp.

Subscribe, Rate & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Ben Sporer on Sequencing Training, Clear Objectives and Marginal Gains appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/doug-kechijian-podcast-3/%20

Here are a couple of questions I’ve been thinking a lot about lately…

What should “longevity” training look and feel like?

Is early specialization as bad as we make it out to be?

And how do we ensure better success with our rehab and return to play athletes?

If you’re curious about any of these topics, you’re going to love this episode with Resilient Performance and PT founder Doug Kechijian!

One thing I love about Doug is that he’s not going to simply go with the flow – he’s always going to take a practical and balanced viewpoint on different subjects.

So if you’re interested in using common sense over the current dogma, you’re going to love this episode!

Quotable Quotes:

Age conspires against us, so how do we not deteriorate with age? It starts with being relentlessly consistent. And it’s easier to be consistent when you’re not constantly getting hurt!

You’re using the weight room as a way to increase the stress piggy bank of your athletes, so that when they play their sport, it’s not expensive

The kid who does the thing more and doesn’t get hurt is going to be better at it, because the skill component of sports is so high

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• How the roles of PT’s and strength coaches should overlap throughout the rehab and return to play (RTP) process
• The most important things you should be focusing on if your goal is “longevity”
• Should you only be training Zone 2? And where/when might you be looking to incorporate more high-intensity conditioning?
• Rethinking traditional “big-bang” exercises, and figuring out where they might fit into your programs (if at all!)
• The power of micro-progressions to avoid setbacks and smooth the RTP process
• Why data is great, but it’s not the be-all, end-all some would like for it to be
• Sports specialization vs multi-sport participation in young athletes
• How training constraints influence program design in real-world settings
• The disconnect between online social media debates and practical application in training

Connect with Doug:

• https://www.resilientperformance.com/
• Doug on Twitter
• Resilient on Instagram

Level Up Your Exercise Selection and Technique with Whatsthatstrap!

Are you looking for ways to coach more effectively while cuing less?

Or getting your clients and athletes into the right position WITHOUT overwhelming them with 35 cues every set?

https://whatsthatstrap.com/

If so, you need to check out Whatsthatstrap!

What’s That Strap makes specialty cable machine attachments that are specifically designed for rotation and multidirectional movement.

The 3D Strap is amazing for driving separation between the hips and shoulders like you would in tennis, golf, baseball or even basketball, but it can also be used to resist rotation in standard weight room exercises like squats and lunges as well.

And while the 3D Strap is awesome, I also find myself using their chop handles all the time as well. Whether it’s for exercises like chops and lifts, or just using them as a bonus sled dragging attachment, I absolutely love their versatility.

To learn more about Whatsthatstrap or pick up a 3D Strap or chop handles, head over to https://whatsthatstrap.com/ and use the discount code RTS at checkout to get free shipping on all US orders.

I know you’re going to love training with their attachments!

Subscribe, Rate & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Doug Kechijian on Early Specialization, Longevity Training, and Rehab Success appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/andy-mcdonald-rtp-podcast/

Andy McDonald is a strength and conditioning coach turned rehab innovator. He’s the founder of Gameplan Performance, and host for the Informed Performance Podcast.

In this episode, Andy and I attempt to unravel the complexities of athlete recovery.

He challenges the traditional “three-phase rehab model” of return to play, and advocates for a more nuance and collaborative approach.

We talk about how important terminology and language are in the rehab process, versus throwing around buzzwords like “strength” or “power.”

And most importantly, we talk about the synergy that needs to occur between PT’s and strength coaches if we want to get athletes back to 100% – and beyond.

This is an awesome episode and one I know you’re going to love – let’s do this!

Quotable Quotes:

Nobody owns rehab. At the end stage of rehab, if we’re talking about the athlete getting back to a sustainable level of performance at the highest level we can get them back at, the people that know the most about what that looks and feels like is the athlete and the coach

Three-phase systems don’t work. We’ve got this gravitation that years ago we would refer to things in rehab as early stage, mid stage, and late stage. But if we can more clearly deconstruct a rehab into its constituent parts, then what we’re left with is a system

The common currency that all of us share is exercise. The strength conditioning coach, especially in more advanced exercise stages, they’ve just got a better eye, feel, and understanding, knowledge base, how to coach it, how to program it

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Andy’s background and how he got into strength and conditioning and physical therapy
• How collaboration between coaches, clinicians and rehab specialists leads to faster athlete recovery
• Why one of your first steps in the return to play (RTP) process should be to deconstruct or reverse engineer sporting demands
• The power of adapting and evolving strategies based on real-time feedback to improve buy-in and results
• Why getting clear on terminology and language is such a key piece of the rehab/RTP puzzle
• How transparency and humility go hand-in-hand in the athlete recovery process
• The “relay” approach that defines most high-quality, well-executed rehabs
• How to take the guesswork out of the process, and what to do when things DON’T go according to plan!

Connect with Andy:

• Gameplan Performance Website
• Andy on Instagram
• Andy on LinkedIn

Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic!

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

https://trainheroic.co/rtsTo learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Andy McDonald on Performance Frameworks, Integrated Rehab Cultures, and Return to Play appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/travis-mash-vbt-podcast/

Are you interested in learning about velocity-based training (VBT)?

Have you heard of it before, but maybe not quite sure what you can do with it?

Or are you someone that’s currently using it and looking to take your skills to the next level?

If so, this episode with Travis Mash has you covered!

Here we cover tons of reasons why you might consider adding VBT training into your program, as well as best-practices to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.

Let’s do this!

Quotable Quotes:

The biggest thing with VBT is that immediate feedback encourages athletes to push throughout the entire range of motion

Day 1 is all about creating load-velocity profiles, and we’d do that for all the big lifts like squatting, bench, etc.

If your goal is hypertrophy, use a 25% drop off so you get the gains without the negative consequences

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• What velocity-based training (VBT) is, in a nutshell.
• How VBT provides immediate and objective feedback to enhance effort and intent.
• The numerous ways you can use VBT to test, train and monitor your athletes.
• How velocity bands and “training zones” can differ between novice athletes and seasoned lifters.
• Velocity drop-offs: What are they? And how can they help you build hypertrophy?
• When Travis starts to utilize VBT with his athletes, and how he gets them started on Day 1.
• How Travis went about re-building the culture of his new gym when he took over as a coach.
• Finally, how to use VBT to improve buy-in and create better relationships with your athletes!

Connect with Travis:

• https://www.mashelite.com/
• http://gymaware.com/ (use code MashElite to save $$$)

Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates!

https://www.hawkindynamics.com/rtsHawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Travis Mash on the Who, What, When and Why of Velocity-Based Training appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/luka-hocevar-toughest-lessons/

If you wanted to become a better coach…

…open your own gym…

…or just be happier and more successful in life, how amazing would it be to learn from someone with 20+ years practical, in-the-trenches experience?

My guess is pretty darn valuable.

And lucky you, but that’s the entire theme of today’s show!

In this episode, Luka and I go back and forth on the biggest lessons we’ve learned in business, coaching, and life, and I guarantee you’re going to love it.

Let’s do this!

Quotable Quotes:

There’s coaching and then there’s the business of coaching. And when you start a business, you kind of realize how much you don’t know

To achieve what you want to achieve, you need deep goals and reasons around WHY you want to achieve them

You can’t keep one foot in your old life and one in your new one. There’s no halfway version of growth.

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Why it’s so important to chase greatness in coaching…
• …but also learning the BUSINESS of coaching
• The power of finding true clarity about what you want in business and life
• Being honest about where you’re at so you can come up with the roadmap to get to where you want to go
• Finding joy in your work and career
• PERMA: What it is, and why it’s so important
• How being an interesting actually makes you a better coach
• The 3 personal qualities that Mike looks for in ALL new hires
• 4 of the hardest things you’ll do in life, and why Luka has chosen to do all of them!

Connect with Luka:

• Vigor Ground Website
• Luka Hocevar Website
• Built to Last Website
• Luka on IG
• Luka’s YouTube
• Vigor Life Podcast
• Built to Last Gym Podcast

Books Mentioned:

• Running Down a Dream – Bill Gurley
• Grit – Angela Duckworth
• This is Marketing – Seth Godin
• Linchpin – Seth Godin
• Flourish – Martin Seligman

Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press!

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

http://pushpress.com/ppp

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to http://pushpress.com/ppp.

Subscribe, Rate & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

The post Luka Hocevar on the Toughest Lessons He’s Learnined in Business and Coaching appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/the-super-duper-spring-mix/%20

It has been an AWESOME week my friend!

I’m just wrapping up Spring Break here in Arizona, and needless to say, it’s been an awesome experience.

Between the zoo, hiking, Jeep tours and some amazing food, Team Robertson has definitely had a week to remember.

But now it’s time to get back to the grind, as I’ve got a podcast to drop today and a workshop to dominate this weekend.

So without any further ado, let’s dive in!

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Andy McCloy on the power of reading, writing and speaking to become a better communicator
• Wil Fleming on knowing yourself and how to PUT yourself in the right mental state
• Cassandra Forsythe on teaching young athletes to nourish their bodies
• Cody McBroom on the 10,000 rule and how to truly master a subject
• Dr. Anne Beethe on building a high-performance team
• Dr. Marc Lewis on reverse engineering an athlete monitoring program
• Joel Jamieson on using wearables to track fitness and VO2 max
• Adam Loiacono educates us on the types of regenerative medicine we have available to us
• Tom Clark on whether you should be taking melatonin to enhance sleep
• Dr. Jack Wells on why golf IS NOT a velocity sport

Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic!

Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel?

Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes?

If so, you need to check out Train Heroic.

I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none.

https://trainheroic.co/rtsTo learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic.

Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that.

So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post The Super Duper Spring Mix Spectacular appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/rts-past-present-and-future/%20

I’ve been asked some iteration of this question A LOT lately…

“Yo Mike – what’s new? And why haven’t you been posting as much?”

And frankly, I wish the answer were something short and sweet!

But sometimes life just isn’t cut and dry.

Sometimes there are layers, nuance and depth to what’s going on.

So today, I’m going to give you a little history tour on how I got started in this space, what the past 20+ years has looked like, and where I’m headed in the future.

You might not be taking furious notes from this one, but I hope it gives you some insights as to where I’m at in life!

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• My content creation journey, and how RTS originally started.
• The window in my life where absolutely EVERYTHING changed.
• A look back on the sheer volume of content I’ve created over the years (Hint: It’s a lot!)
• A key question that I could answer easily in 2005, but which got harder and harder as I got older
• The IFAST Basketball Insiders experiment: Why it bombed miserably, and what I learned from it
• Learning to lean into my growth and evolution as a coach, versus hiding from it
• What the future holds for the Physical Prep Podcast
• A truly heartfelt shout out to anyone who has been with me for this amazing ride!

https://youtu.be/IGROfuhvYOE

Level Up Your Exercise Selection and Technique with Whatsthatstrap!

Are you looking for ways to coach more effectively while cuing less?

Or getting your clients and athletes into the right position WITHOUT overwhelming them with 35 cues every set?

https://whatsthatstrap.com/

If so, you need to check out Whatsthatstrap!

What’s That Strap makes specialty cable machine attachments that are specifically designed for rotation and multidirectional movement.

The 3D Strap is amazing for driving separation between the hips and shoulders like you would in tennis, golf, baseball or even basketball, but it can also be used to resist rotation in standard weight room exercises like squats and lunges as well.

And while the 3D Strap is awesome, I also find myself using their chop handles all the time as well. Whether it’s for exercises like chops and lifts, or just using them as a bonus sled dragging attachment, I absolutely love their versatility.

To learn more about Whatsthatstrap or pick up a 3D Strap or chop handles, head over to https://whatsthatstrap.com/ and use the discount code RTS at checkout to get free shipping on all US orders.

I know you’re going to love training with their attachments!

Subscribe, Rate & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post RTS Past, Present and Future appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/joe-kenn-strongman-vbt/

My friend you’re in for a treat today!

In this episode, we’re bringing back the man, the myth, the LEGEND – Joe Kenn, aka Big House Power.

It’s been so cool watching this guys’ journey over the past 15 years.

From top-tier D1 football S&C coach, to his time in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, and now to his newest iteration of himself as a strongman coach, Joe is always thinking and learning.

And in this episode, we’re going to dive into a ton of different topics. From strongman comps, to how he’s programming nowadays, to why he’s doing away with “average” velocity in his VBT work, I know you’re going to love this episode.

Let’s do this!

Quotable Quotes:

The art of coaching elite strength is rooted in purposeful intent

Conditioning is about building adaptable capacity through tailored, phase-based training

Peak velocity training elevates mental focus and shifts the athlete’s perception of effort

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Joe’s journey from D1 strength coach, to the NFL, and now into the world of strongman coaching
• A “Behind the Scenes” view of what it’s really like to coach a professional strongman
• How strongman competitions work, and why strategy is such a key piece of the puzzle
• Joe’s strongman training blocks: Capacity, Push, and Taper
• The “On-Season” training concept explained
• How significant the differences are in training a team-sport versus individual strength athlete
• Arguably the MOST IMPORTANT muscle in strongman (I guarantee it’s not what you think)
• Why Joe is focusing less on average velocity in his VBT training, and what he’s using instead
• What the future holds for the one and only Joe Kenn!

Connect with Joe:

• https://bighousepower.com/
• Joe on Instagram
• Conditioning for Strongman Book

Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates!

https://www.hawkindynamics.com/rtsHawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way.

Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance.

You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session.

Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance.

And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions.

With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level.

To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Joe Kenn on Strongman Training, Strength Development, and Velocity-Based Training appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/megan-young-podcast/

Well it only took 500-some episodes, but I finally made it happen!

Today we welcome the one and only Megan Young to the Physical Prep Podcast.

This conversation was so much fun, especially learning more about her journey from reluctant track and field thrower, to collegiate strength coach, to cancer survivor, and then finally with her success with the MLS’ Seattle Sounders.

Meg’s resilience and passion for S&C are truly inspiring, and I know you’re going to love learning more about her, as well as what she’s up to these days.

So without any further ado, let’s do this!

Quotable Quotes:

Success in performance coaching increasingly comes from cultivating a broad, curious mindset rather than hyper-focusing on a single niche

Prioritizing internal validation and purpose over external markers like titles or wins transforms coaching into a meaningful, sustainable career

AI’s most significant role in coaching is in handling large data sets and synthesis, freeing humans to focus on contextual interpretation and nuanced decisions

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Meg’s journey from reluctant track and field thrower to high-level performance coach
• The power of curiosity and continuous learning in achieve elite performance
• How strength and conditioning evolved from bodybuilding, powerlifting and Olympic-lifting into what it is today
• Why mentors and an awesome peer group are such a critical piece of coaching development
• How being diagnosed with cancer impacted not only Megan’s coaching career, but her outlook on life as well
• The process she went through at the end of every year, and why she ultimately decided to step away from pro sports this year
• What she’s excited about and working on now that she’s never shared before!
• The advice she would give to young, up-and-coming coaches who want to attain high-levels of success throughout their career

Connect with Megan:

• Megan Young on Instagram
• Megan Young on LinkedIn

Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press!

Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress?

It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world.

So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day.

http://pushpress.com/ppp

Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking.

Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features.

And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes.

Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions.

So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to http://pushpress.com/ppp.

Subscribe, Rate & Share

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

The post Megan Young on Personal Growth, New Challenges, and Curiosity Voyages appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

https://robertsontrainingsystems.com/blog/adam-loiacono-prp-stem-cell/

If you’re a strength coach or personal trainer right now, there’s a good chance a client or athlete has come in and said something like this:

“Yo Mike… what do you think about PRP?”

Or, “My doctor mentioned stem cells.”

Or, “I’ve had two (or 6 or 10) surgeries already—should I look into regenerative medicine?”

And the honest answer is… maybe?

I have some athletes who swear PRP or stem cells changed everything.

And others spent a ton of money and got absolutely nothing out of it.

So as a coach, you’re stuck in the middle—trying to help, trying to be responsible, but without a clear framework for what actually makes sense.

When you understand the right use cases—and the common mistakes—a lot of the noise disappears.

And to help us sort all this out, I’ve got my guy Adam Loiacono on the show.

Adam is a former medical director for the Phoenix Suns and a guy who has spent the bulk of his professional career working in high-stakes environments with high-performers.

And he’s a guy who has really dove head first into regenerative medicine, helping athletes make smart decisions instead of expensive guesses.

So In today’s episode, we’ll discuss

• Does regenerative medicine actually work?
• The differences between PRP and stem cells for athletes and active adults
• And who regenerative medicine is really for—and who should probably save their money

If you work with older clients, or athletes who’ve been through multiple injuries or surgeries and are trying to get back to elite-level training, this conversation will give you a much clearer lens for navigating these decisions.

Quotable Quotes:

Some people have success and some people don’t, even though they get the same stem cell injection or PRP injections

The moment I stepped out of team sports, questions changed because my position changed.

With regenerative medicine, you’re trying to avoid that surgery by enhancing the cell environment through external means

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

• Adam’s background in physical therapy, S&C, and how he got into the world of regenerative medicine
• Is regenerative medicine just rebuilding tissue? Or is there more to the equation than that?
• Why do some people get awesome results with orthobiologics, while others see minimal – or no – benefit?
• Explaining the “Alphabet Soup” of regenerative medicine options: PRP, BMAC, etc.
• The role that rehab, therapy and training play in the results you get
• Why do some people go out of country? And what are the differences between what you can get here in the US vs. abroad?
• What does the research tell us about outcomes? And what role should serial radiology (x-rays, MRI’s, etc.) play here?
• Arguably the single biggest factor on what options you should look into
• Final thoughts on how to get the most bang-for-your-buck out of whichever regenerative medicine option you choose!

Connect with Adam:

• Adam on Instagram
• Adam’s Website
• Auragens Website

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So don’t wait any longer – head over http://trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!

Subscribe, Rate & Share!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website.

Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you!

The post Adam Loiacono on PRP, Stem Cells, and the Truth about Regenerative Medicine appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.