Hosts: Steven Davis & Tris Cason
Duration: ~1h48m
Release Date: November 1, 2025
🔥 Episode Summary:
Steven and Tris break down the real role of rep ranges, intensity, and execution in training outcomes. If you've ever asked, “How many reps should I be doing?”—this episode flips that on its head. Because it’s not about the reps… it’s about what they mean and how you’re doing them.
🧠What You’ll Learn:
Why textbook rep ranges miss the point
How intensity (RPE/RIR) is often misunderstood—and misapplied
What “failure” actually feels like (and why most people never get there)
How exercise execution > exercise selection
When squatting more isn’t helping—and what to do instead
⏱️ Timestamps
Timestamp
Topic
0:00 – 4:30
Why we need to reframe how people think about rep ranges
4:31 – 12:44
Textbook vs. real-world rep targets (and where people go wrong)
12:45 – 20:29
The difference between training for load vs. learning movement
29:20 – 36:00
Picking the right rep scheme based on the training phase
45:00 – 54:00
Understanding RPE, RIR, and how to coach true intensity
56:00 – 1:10:00
Execution mistakes (lat pulldown, hamstring curls, etc.)
1:17:00 – 1:30:00
The problem with chasing “task completion” in training
1:30:00 – 1:39:00
Squat/lunge regressions & programming smarter for GenPop
1:39:00 – end
Final thoughts & applying this to your own programming
🛠️ Tactical Takeaways:
Rep ranges are context tools, not guarantees of outcome
Training to failure ≠“when it burns”—it’s what you can’t complete with form
Execution > weight — quality reps beat heavy garbage
Use RPE or RIR to manage fatigue and build consistency across a week
Form-focused training should be prioritized before chasing intensity
Regression is progression if it gets you better tension and output
📦 Tools & Strategies Mentioned:
RPE/RIR frameworks to scale intensity without burnout
Prelipin’s Chart to understand optimal volume by training goal*
Cue-based coaching: “drive through the floor,” “show me you own the position”
Joint alignment fixes for hamstring curls, lunges, and split squats
Goblet squat progressions as a learning tool before barbell lifts
🎯 Who This Episode Is For:
Lifters plateauing despite following “programs”
Coaches struggling to teach intensity without injury
GenPop clients wanting muscle + joint safety
Anyone who’s been doing 3x10 forever… and wondering why nothing’s changing
đź“ť Quotes to Remember:
“Your reps don’t matter if your effort is trash.” – Tris
“Most people stop when it burns, not when they fail.” – Steven
“You don’t earn the barbell just because you want it.” – Steven
“Task completion is the enemy of actual progress.” – Tris
