It’s no secret that helping gen pop clients see success can be tough. It can seem daunting when you imagine that there’s more trainers and coaches entering our industry ever year, yet as a whole, we’re seeing a steady decline in our physical capacity and dealing with more severe chronic diseases than ever before. So I went searching for someone that would really tell me how it is, and that’s why today I’m pumped to have Uh-rom Gri-gor-ian on the podcast. A former finance bro and party boy,...

If you work with gen pop clients or runners that are struggling with nagging aches and pains, then this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Michelle Boland is a certified strength and conditioning coach with distinction and owner of Michelle Boland Training, LLC. Michelle was previously the Director of Education at a private training facility and has several years experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for a D1 collegiate institution. Michelle specializes in movement biomechanics,...

After 23 years in the game, I still feel like I’ve got a lot to learn. But over those years, I feel like I’ve accrued a lot of experience – both in training, and in life. So if you’re looking to level up as a trainer or coach, this episode is for you! Here, we’re going to cover 9 pieces of advice I would give to any up-and-coming coach who wants to continue to grow and evolve. And last but not least, the title is “up and coming” coaches versus “young coaches” – because I don’t consider...

As trainers and coaches, we love to talk about fitness. Whether it’s writing training programs, how to better coach and cue our clients, or simply nerding out about our favorite exercises, the training part of the equation is always fun. But what about the other side – what about recovery? While it’s getting more and more notoriety these days, having a better understanding of recovery is a key piece of the puzzle, and one I’m excited to talk about with today’s guest. Pete McCall is...

Do you train young athletes? Do you want to help inspire and empower them? And do you want to help them learn how to take care of their body for a lifetime? If so you’re going to love this week’s show! Dr Sean Maloney is a strength and conditioning coach and lecturer based in Milton Keynes, England. He started his own coaching business, Maloney Performance, back in 2011 following an internship with the English Institute of Sport. Currently, Sean leads S&C support for MK Breakers...

We’re BAAAACCCKKKKK! It’s been a hot minute since I did a Q&A episode, but we’ve got some great questions this time around. With topics ranging from breathing exercises, to developing training programs for gen pop athletes, to my thoughts on flywheel training, we cover a ton of ground in this episode. So enough from me – let’s do it!   If it’s possible, this was my best and the worst off-season of all-time…and that’s the best way I can explain it! – MR   This Week on the Physical...

As fitness business owners, we all struggled during COVID – but some gym owners definitely paid a steeper price than others. While many of us were shut down 3, 6 or maybe even as long as 9 months – what would you do if you were forced to close your gym for 18(!) months? How would both you – as well as your business – have to grow and evolve during that time? Well if you’d like to know the answer, today’s guest is going to answer that very question! Mark Fisher is the co-founder of...

If you’ve ever wondered how to write training programs for an NBA athlete, you’re going to love this episode. Whether we’re talking about off-season development, managing the grind of an 82-game season, or bringing an injured athlete back to 100%, today’s guest has seen it all. Eric Schmitt is in his fifth year as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Memphis Grizzlies. And prior to his arrival in Memphis, he served as the Director of Sports Performance at the University of...

Can you believe it??? 400 freakin’ episodes of the Physical Prep Podcast. It’s crazy just typing that number, let alone thinking that I’ve actually recorded and produced that many shows! But here’s the thing – the goal was never to do 400 shows. The goal was to do 50-100, and then shut it down. But the longer I do this, the more I enjoy it. The conversations. The people. The learning! So in today’s episode, I’m going to take you on a long and winding tour of IFAST, Robertson Training...

If your goal is to help your athletes get FASTER, then this is the show for you. One of America’s elite speed and performance coaches, Les Spellman has trained several Olympians as well as athletes in the NFL, NCAA, and USA rugby. Most notably, however, he has guided a large percentage of his youth athletes to college scholarships. And in this episode, we’re really going to dive into the models and systems that Les uses to evaluate, train and coach his athletes and help them get as fast as...

Have you ever wondered why some athletic endeavors come so easily to certain people? For instance, some people can just jump out of the gym. Others can run for days and never seem to tire. And some can squat or deadlift the equivalent of a compact car while barely breaking a sweat! Well if you’ve ever wondered how body shapes impact your ability to express athleticism then THIS is the show for you. Bill Hartman is known for finding solution for people in pain that have failed with other...

  As you’ve gotten older, have you felt your body getting tighter? Have you lost some of that athleticism you had in your youth? Or do you just want to get back into moving and feeling great? If so, you’re going to LOVE today’s episode with Neal Valera and Dennis Dunphy. Neal is a former collegiate golfer, avid rock climber, and strength coach. Dennis is a hockey and sports nut, culinary enthusiast, and shares my love and affection for everything Marvel. And together they created Stick...

Derek Hansen been working with athletes in speed, strength and power sports since 1988. Originally working in Track and Field, Derek has expanded his services to assist athletes in all sports with an emphasis on speed development. He has since worked with some of the top performers in the world as a coach and a consultant – including Olympic medalists, world record holders, Canadian National team athletes, professional sports organizations, and professional athletes from numerous...

Joey Burton is an NBA skills trainer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. He’s coached athlete at virtually every level of the sport, but is most well-known for helping NBA players hone their shooting skills. In this episode, Joey and I take deep dives into the world of skill development, coaching and communication. We talk about how to developing your coaching eye, and why that’s not necessarily done with elite athletes. We discuss the power of having a philosophy and principles to build from,...

Dr. Stuart McGill is often considered to be the world’s foremost expert on spinal biomechanics. His patient list ranges from the general population to some of the world’s most elites athletes, and his work has produced over 240 peer reviewed journal papers and 4 books. In this mashed up replay from two of my most popular episodes, Dr. McGill and I cover a wide range of topics – from lower back movement assessments to program design and everything in between, if you have questions about the...

If you’re a strength and conditioning or physical preparation coach who wants to level up your assessment and sports science game, then you’re going to love this episode. Ryan Patrick is owner of Peak Fitness & Sports Training (aka PeakFAST) in Erlanger, Kentucky. In the years that I’ve known Ryan he’s been a competitive powerlifter, gotten his Masters Degree, and run an incredibly successful fitness business. But most importantly, Ryan is someone whose ideals and philosophies really...

It’s hard to believe it’s almost August, so we’ve got to knock out our monthly Q&A for July! These are actually getting more fun as we go, as I think we’ve got a great blend of higher-level, philosophical questions combined with some nitty gritty, “try this today” practical application as well. Plus, with the inclusion of the lightning round, I feel like we can cover A LOT of bases in just 45 minutes. So sit back, relax, and let’s talk some training – shall we?   When you’re training...

If you’re serious about improving your health and conditioning, or just living a longer and healthier life, you’re going to LOVE this episode. Joel Jamieson is a mentor, friend, and someone I deeply respect in our industry. He’s the author of the Ultima MMA Conditioning book, developer of the Morpheus fitness app and creator of the Certified Conditioning Coach certification. But most importantly, he’s just a wealth of knowledge and someone I’m honored to call a friend. In this episode...

If you’re serious about becoming a better trainer or coach, at some point you need to ask yourself some big questions. For instance, what’s your philosophy when it comes to training? What groups or populations do you want to serve? And assuming this is a career (and not a hobby), what are you going to charge for your time? While these questions may sound simple at first glance, they’re definitely not easy. So in today’s episode, I’m going to take you step-by-step through these questions...

Kevin Neeld is the Head Performance Coach for the Boston Bruins, where he oversees all aspects of designing and implementing the team’s performance training program, as well as monitoring the players’ performance, workload and recovery. Prior to his time in Boston, Kevin spent 2 years as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Jose Sharks after serving as the director of a private sports performance facility in New Jersey for 7 years, working with pro, college, junior and...

Pat Rigsby is a fitness business coach who has been in the industry since 1994. Growing up in Portsmouth, Ohio, Pat never had an interest in entrepreneurship and wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. And even though he had a season in professional baseball, he eventually realized playing the sport wasn’t his calling and set his sights on coaching. Since starting that first fitness business, Pat has owned, or co-owned, over 32 businesses in the industry, from health...

Have you ever considered working in professional sports? Do you want to know what it REALLY TAKES to succeed at the highest levels? Or are you just curious as to what life is like behind the NFL curtain? If so, this is the show for you! Loren Landow is a 29-year veteran in the strength and conditioning game, and someone I deeply respect. This guy has not only had incredible success over the years, but he continues to learn, evolve and push our industry forward. And in this episode, he’s...

It’s June, and we’re back with another KILLER Q&A Episode! This month was fun because I had a nice mix of questions to answer. On one hand, I had some X’s and O’s questions about how to get more out of your programs and coaching. And on the flip side, I also got some higher-level philosophical questions on continuing education and how to make our industry a little bit better. Regardless, there’s something in here for everyone – so let’s dive in!   You have to get really clear on...

Matthew Ibrahim currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Quincy College, Adjunct Professor of Exercise Science at Maryville University, founder of Athletic Performance University (AthleticPerformanceU.com) and Ph.D. Candidate in Human & Sport Performance. As a public speaker, Matthew has presented nationally in over 25 U.S. states, and he’s also in the midst of writing a book through Human Kinetics on the topic of training for athletic performance. And last but...

If you want to help your athletes get faster, then THIS is the podcast for you. In my not so humble opinion, Lee Taft is THE BEST practitioner of multi-directional speed training in the world, and in this episode I really feel like we capture lightning in a bottle. While Lee primarily works as a consultant these days, over his storied career he’s owned his own facility numerous times, coached at virtually every level of sport, and perhaps more importantly has coached just about every type...