Shows
Strength Coach CollectiveCoaching Different Body Types: Dr. Lon Kilgore on Anatomy and TechniqueDr. Lon Kilgore explains why "perfect technique" doesn't exist—and what actually matters for strength development.In this episode of the "Strength Coach Collective" podcast, host Kenny Markwardt sits down with Kilgore, author of "Anatomy Without a Scalpel" and veteran strength coach with over 50 years of experience.Lon shares lessons from his decades in coaching, as well as his experiences as a professor and an athlete who’s still competing into his 60s.He explains the importance of coaching cues that clients can understand, how to balance technique with loading, and how human vari...
2025-09-2459 minStrength Coach CollectiveWhy Chris Spealler Ditched Traditional Fitness ProgrammingIs performance in the gym the goal or simply a tool to live better in the outside world?In today’s episode, eight-time CrossFit Games competitor and former CrossFit Seminar Staff member Chris Spealler discusses his evolution from high-intensity daily training to sustainable "Adventure Preparedness Programming."Chris breaks down his 12-week programming blocks and explains why his gym, Park City Fit, focuses on serving adventure-loving athletes who want to better enjoy outdoor activities like skiing rather than compete in fitness. He explains how to keep clients motivated long term, how to adjust coaching st...
2025-09-171h 08Strength Coach CollectivePamela Gagnon: Having Fun With Gymnastics—For LifeToday on the “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt sits down with Pamela Gagnon, former Division 1 gymnast, longtime CrossFit coach and the co-creator of Performance Plus Programming.Pamela explains her “playground approach” to coaching—breaking complex skills into their fun components and strength elements—and shares practical mobility strategies that take just minutes a day.She gives new coaches tips for working with clients, such as using simple language (“make a turtle shell” instead of “retract your scapula”) and focusing on 1% daily improvements rather than end goals that create frustration. Kenny and Pamela also discuss coachin...
2025-09-1053 minStrength Coach CollectiveThe Next Frontier: Blood Biomarkers for Precise Fitness CoachingThe one-size-fits-all approach to fitness coaching is no more. Enter blood biomarkers: the next frontier in truly individualizing client training programs.Today on the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, Kenny Markwardt sits down with Ash Anwar from Molecular You to explore how comprehensive blood analysis is revolutionizing fitness coaching.While traditional medical tests look at a handful of diagnostic markers after problems develop, Molecular You analyzes 288 biomarkers to catch issues early.In this episode, you’ll learn how biomarkers can transform your coaching by giving you insight into:Resilience—if clients are overtraining or recov...
2025-09-0358 minStrength Coach CollectiveDr. Zach Long: Why Athletes Get Injured (And How to Prevent It)In this episode, Kenny Markwardt sits down with Dr. Zach Long—a board-certified sports physical therapist who believes injured athletes should use the gym, not leave it.Long, aka “The Barbell Physio,” explains when coaches should modify training versus refer out and how trainers can build relationships with the right medical professionals. He also offers practical tips for training athletes through pain and injury. The pair discuss what separates quality gyms from mediocre ones, from optimal coach-to-athlete ratios to common programming mistakes.Long also tackles coaching misconceptions such as “never lift overhead” and “don't squat...
2025-08-2749 minStrength Coach CollectiveMike Cerbus: Programming Olympic Lifting for General Population ClientsThink teaching Olympic lifts requires 20 different cues? Think again.Today on the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, Chris Guerrero sits down with Mike Cerbus, a multi-time USA Weightlifting National Championship medalist and head weightlifting coach for Power Monkey Fitness. With nearly 30 years under the bar and more than 15 years serving the fitness community, Mike shares his approach to technical excellence and long-term athletic development.He breaks down his "feet, hands and eyes" framework for teaching any squat variation, explaining how three contact points create the foundation for everything from back squats to Olympic lifts....
2025-08-2052 minStrength Coach CollectiveDave Durante: How Power Monkey Blends Disciplines to Elevate CoachingToday on the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Chris Guerrero is joined by Dave Durante, a multiple-time USA Gymnastics national champion, alternate in the 2008 Summer Olympics and co-founder of Power Monkey Fitness. In this episode, Dave explains how Power Monkey brings together experts in gymnastics, weightlifting, endurance and mobility to help coaches sharpen their craft, regardless of their method or the level of their athletes. According to Dave, every advanced skill is based on an understanding of body shapes and static positions, and he believes spotting is one of the fastest ways to build trust and...
2025-08-1353 minStrength Coach Collective"Help Best": Your Guide to Delivering Client-Centric CoachingIn this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Chris Cooper and Kenny Markwardt dive into "Help Best"—Chris' first book dedicated entirely to coaching, co-authored with Kenny and three other top Two-Brain mentors.While most coaching books focus on specific methods, this one focuses on results.Chris and Kenny explain why "method obsession" is holding coaches back and how the Prescriptive Model creates better outcomes for clients, whether you're coaching CrossFit, Pilates or anything else.They share their own coaching failures (such as making an NHL goalie vomit halfway through a workout) and explain why gr...
2025-08-0631 minStrength Coach CollectiveMichele Letendre: Programming for an Evolving Fitness IndustryCoaching has evolved—and programming must evolve with it.Today on the “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt sits down with HWPO Affiliate head coach Michele Letendre to talk about what effective programming looks like in today’s gyms. They explore how program design has shifted over the years and what gym owners and coaches need to do to stay relevant in an increasingly educated, wellness-focused market.Michele shares how her experience as a competitive CrossFit athlete and programmer helped shape HWPO’s current multi-track approach. She explains how thoughtful program design—inc...
2025-07-3056 minStrength Coach CollectiveBahubali Shete on NutriChef's AI-Powered Nutrition CoachingWhat if your nutrition coaching program could practically run itself?Today on the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, Bahubali Shete explains how his AI-driven nutrition software, NutriChef, helps coaches save time while providing clients with more individualized support and accountability.NutriChef pulls in intake forms, daily tracking and data from wearables to build personalized nutrition plans. And instead of removing the coach, it gives them more time to do what they’re best at: coaching.In this episode, Bahubali talks about building the platform, why nutrition coaching requires better systems, and how coaches can use th...
2025-07-2356 minStrength Coach CollectiveMastering Aerobic Training: Joel Jamieson on HRV and VO2 MaxIf you want to help clients live longer and perform better, you need to train the aerobic system.In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Joel Jamieson—creator of Morpheus and author of “Ultimate MMA Conditioning”—joins host Kenny Markwardt to break down heart-rate variability (HRV), VO2 max and the science of aerobic training.Joel explains how aerobic fitness influences recovery, adaptation and longevity and why more coaches should be using HRV and VO2 max to guide their training plans.He unpacks the evolution of HRV monitoring, addresses common misconceptions about recovery data and explains...
2025-07-1658 minStrength Coach CollectiveMichael Bann: Why Human Connection Drives Coaching SuccessContent Warning: This episode contains a mention of suicide and discussions on mental health. Listener discretion is advised.Any coach can write a program, but a good program alone isn’t enough to keep clients around long enough to get results. In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Michael Bann shares how he transitioned to scalable remote coaching by focusing on empathy, accountability and long-term client results.He explains that coaching—whether in-person or remote—can succeed or fail based on human connection. According to Bann, hands-on experience is critical for learning communication, presence a...
2025-07-091h 06Strength Coach Collective“Game Speed”: Jason Feairheller on Training That Actually TransfersThe fastest athletes aren’t always the best performers on the field—and today’s guest explains why.In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, multidirectional speed expert Jason Feairheller joins Kenny Markwardt to break down what athletes really need to succeed on game day.They discuss why sprint times don’t tell the whole story, how to coach change of direction and agility as separate skills, and how to build speed that actually transfers to sport.Jason shares the origins of his “Game Speed” framework, how he assesses and progresses athletes, and wh...
2025-07-0240 minStrength Coach CollectiveDrive Coaching Results With Wall Street Weightlifter's 50-to-1 MethodReady to help your clients get stronger without burning out?In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Graciano Rubio—better known online as the Wall Street Weightlifter—shares a training philosophy built around intensity, intention and clarity.Known for his brutally simple barbell work and big lifts, Graciano explains how he uses estimated one-rep maxes to guide weekly progress, even when life outside the gym gets hectic.He talks about helping both CrossFit members and personal-training clients zero in on the most important part of every session to create focus that drives consistency, motivati...
2025-06-251h 05Strength Coach CollectivePrinciples of Program Design: The Checklists Every Coach NeedsMost coaches learn to assign sets and reps but never master the systems behind truly effective program design.Today on the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, Mike Perry and Eric D’Agati, co-founders of Principles of Program Design, explain how fitness coaches can use scalable systems and proven checklists to deliver personalized results without chaos.Mike and Eric break down how to create high-value training without overcomplicating things and earn forever clients who never want to leave.Their unique belt system helps coaches assess client readiness and progression more accurately, and their checklists can be use...
2025-06-1859 minStrength Coach CollectiveMarcus Filly on Functional Bodybuilding Without BurnoutTired of burning out your clients—or even yourself? Marcus Filly, six-time CrossFit Games competitor and founder of Functional Bodybuilding, is here to offer solutions.In this episode, Marcus unpacks his transition from elite competition to coaching everyday athletes with sustainable strength-and-conditioning methods.He shares how Functional Bodybuilding emerged from the burnout he and many other athletes experienced with traditional high-intensity training. Marcus explains how hypertrophy training paired with lower-skill aerobic work can drive better long-term results and adherence for clients.He also discusses common programming mistakes and offers insights into gr...
2025-06-1146 minStrength Coach CollectiveCoaching Kids for Life With The Brand X MethodMovement is a language—and kids need the right foundation to speak it for life.In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Kenny Markwardt sits down with Jeff, Mikki and Keegan Martin of The Brand X Method to explore what it takes to coach young athletes successfully.The Brand X team members break down their pillars of Base, Build, Boost and Prepare, Practice, Play, and they explain how programming with these principles in mind helps kids develop physical literacy and ensures longevity in fitness.They discuss why many kids start with a...
2025-06-0455 minStrength Coach CollectiveStan Efferding: What Actually Gets Clients Results (and What Doesn’t)In this episode, Stan Efferding—renowned coach, world-record-holding powerlifter and creator of the Vertical Diet—breaks down the biggest mistakes coaches and athletes make when trying to build strength and improve performance. He also unpacks the foundations of the Vertical Diet, debunking common nutrition misconceptions and sharing practical advice for setting macro targets and improving digestion and energy.Stan has worked with some of the strongest athletes in the world, including Hafþór Björnsson, Brian Shaw and Jon Jones. He explains what sets elite performers apart from average clients—and how coaches can apply those les...
2025-05-281h 10Strength Coach CollectiveInside CNU Stretch: Helping Clients Move Better and Reduce PainMost coaches treat tightness, tension and pain as mechanical problems. But what if those issues are rooted in something deeper?In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, Chris Cooper sits down with Evans Armantrading, founder of CNU Stretch, who breaks down his framework for blending movement, nervous system input and client self-awareness to create long-lasting change.Evans explains how CNU Stretch has evolved into a fully scalable system that helps clients reduce pain, restore range of motion and reconnect with their bodies. He also shares how he now licenses gyms to deli...
2025-05-2151 minStrength Coach CollectiveRichard Aceves on Why Coaching Must Go Beyond the PhysicalNot all movement problems are physical. Great coaches must be able to dig deeper. In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Kenny Markwardt talks with Richard Aceves, founder of Moved Academy, about the mental, emotional and spiritual components of training and their impact on physical performance and pain. Richard explains why clients’ physical limitations can be rooted in mental and emotional stress and how coaches can create lasting change by understanding movement as a reflection of the whole person.Richard also shares practical ways to alleviate tension and help clients build...
2025-05-1456 minStrength Coach CollectiveBehind the Scenes With an Elite Coach: Jason Leydon’s Top LessonsIn this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Chris Guerrero talks with veteran coach Jason Leydon, founder of CrossFit Milford and Conquer Athlete. Jason has coached a number of elite athletes throughout his career, including CrossFit Games podium finishers, international record-holding powerlifters, USA Weightlifting national-team members, All-American wrestlers and state-champion basketball players.Today, Jason dives into what truly sets great coaches apart—no matter who their clients are: a deep understanding of training principles, the ability to adapt to the individual, and a commitment to community and connection. He explains why chasin...
2025-05-0751 minStrength Coach CollectiveWhy Strength Comes First: Coach Rut and Max Effort TrainingToday, Michael Rutherford joins “Strength Coach Collective” to tell coaches how to help their clients get stronger and recover better.Host Kenny Markwardt sits down with Michael—aka “Coach Rut”—to unpack decades of lessons in strength training and conditioning. Coach Rut shares his journey from his early days in college strength coaching to pioneering the Max Effort Black Box (MEBB) method, which blends conjugate strength work with CrossFit-style conditioning.He says building strength first is non-negotiable for effective conditioning and explains why so many athletes struggle to throttle back on intensity when their recove...
2025-04-3050 minStrength Coach CollectiveRethinking Strength Training: Pat Damiano on the Power of KettlebellsSome see kettlebells as just another piece of equipment, but Pat Damiano believes they should be at the core of strength training.In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Chris Guerrero sits down with Pat, a fitness coach who specializes in kettlebells and has amassed over 400,000 followers on social media. Pat shares how kettlebell training evolved from a supplemental tool to the foundation of his coaching and explains why they are so effective for strength and conditioning. He breaks down the most common mistakes coaches make with kettlebells, from only programming swings to n...
2025-04-2340 minStrength Coach CollectiveMovement Quality vs. Lifting Heavy With Brett JonesIf you could spend just 12 minutes with a client and know exactly what movements they should be doing, would you invest that time?In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt is joined by Brett Jones from Functional Movement Systems to discuss how coaches can use the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) to help clients train more effectively. Brett explains how the FMS can be used to identify movement quality, why many injuries stem from poor mechanics rather than overuse and how simple movement corrections can lead to better long-term performance. The two...
2025-04-1652 minStrength Coach CollectiveJonathan Goodman on Scaling Your Fitness Coaching CareerThe secret to building a profitable coaching business isn’t acquiring more followers—it’s providing more value for the right clients.Today on “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt is joined by Jonathan Goodman, founder of the Personal Trainer Development Center and prolific author, whose titles include “The Obvious Choice” and “Ignite the Fire.” Jonathan discusses why focusing on likes and followers is a losing game and explains how the most successful coaches build their businesses through relationships, referrals and high-value services instead. He breaks down the biggest financial mistakes trainers make, including undercha...
2025-04-0946 minStrength Coach CollectiveSet Clients Up for Success on Day 1 With Movement ScreeningFitness coaches want to help their clients move better and stay injury-free, but without a structured movement screening process, they’re often guessing instead of making informed coaching decisions. In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt sits down with gym owner and fitness coach Derek Batman to talk about the role of movement screening in coaching. Derek shares how he realized his gym lacked a structured screening process and why he implemented table screenings, Functional Movement Screen (FMS) testing and baseline fitness evaluations to help his coaches build smarter programming. Kenny...
2025-04-0245 minStrength Coach CollectiveNathan Holiday Breaks Down Energy Systems for Smarter CoachingWhy do some athletes thrive while others struggle with the same workout? It all comes down to energy systems.In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Nathan Holiday, founder of Level Method, breaks down a simple yet powerful framework for understanding and using energy systems in coaching.He introduces the VPE model (ventilation, plumbing and electricity) and describes how it helps coaches assess, scale and progress workouts to overcome barriers to performance.He also explains how to identify what is holding an athlete back, whether it's strength, stamina or aerobic capacity, and then adju...
2025-03-2646 minStrength Coach CollectiveCoaching for Longevity: Mike Burgener on Strength at Any AgeWant to help clients stay strong, mobile and independent for life?In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt sits down with legendary weightlifting coach Mike Burgener—better known as “Coach B”— to discuss the importance of strength training at any age. Coach B starts with the story of how he got started in weightlifting and coaching, and he explains how Olympic lifts improve athletic performance and mobility.Then he lays out how he coaches his own “Geezer Group” using modified Olympic lifts and functional exercises. Their training focuses on maintaining quality of life...
2025-03-1958 minStrength Coach CollectiveNCFIT's Jason Khalipa and MDV on Programming for Coaching ExcellenceWant to create a structured training plan that keeps clients engaged and progressing all year long?In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Kenny Markward sits down with Jason Khalipa, founder of NCFIT and MDV, Chief Fitness Officer at NCFIT, to talk programming.Jason and MDV break down NCFIT’s 2025 Programming Outlook—a full-year training plan designed to maximize athlete performance, retention and results. They share how they balance variance with consistency, avoid randomness and keep athletes engaged with goal-driven programming. They also discuss the importance of regular coaching feedback and why g...
2025-03-1239 minStrength Coach CollectiveTech in Fitness: Physmodo's AI-Powered Movement AssessmentIn an era of up-to-the-second biometric measurement, Physmodo stands out as a leader in the evolution of tracking biomechanics—movement.In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Andrew Menter, CEO and founder of Physmodo, breaks down how AI-powered movement screening makes assessments faster, more objective and more effective for fitness coaches. Andrew explains how the app’s 30-second overhead-squat test provides real-time insights into posture, mobility, symmetry and stability—and you’ll even see a demo. He also shares how frequent movement screening can enhance client results and retention, and why data-driven coaching is the futur...
2025-03-0534 minStrength Coach CollectiveCoaching Simplified: Dan John's Approach to Strength and FitnessSimplicity wins in strength training, and no one explains it better than Dan John. In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Chris Guerrero sits down with strength coach, author and elite athlete Dan John to talk about what does—and doesn’t—work in training. Dan outlines his philosophy on keeping programs simple, breaking down key principles from his book “Easy Strength.” He explains how coaches can help clients make lasting progress by focusing on consistency over intensity, and he shares everything from his grading system for exercises to his thoughts on we...
2025-02-2657 minStrength Coach CollectiveGarmin Clipboard Demo: Using Biometric Data to Improve CoachingThis episode features a live demo—watch on YouTube for the full experience. Garmin Clipboard brings biometric data directly into the hands of coaches—at zero cost. Today on the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Chris Cooper sits down with Brett Guemmer, project manager for Garmin Clipboard, to discuss how the app helps coaches track, analyze and optimize athlete performance in real time. Brett demos how to use the software to monitor heart-rate zones, training loads, sleep patterns and recovery metrics all in one place. He also explains why Garmin is offering this service at...
2025-02-1942 minStrength Coach CollectiveThe Science of Athleticism and Injury Resilience With Bill ParisiFascia training is changing the game in strength and conditioning—and Bill Parisi is leading the charge.In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Kenny Markwardt sits down with Bill Parisi, founder of Parisi Speed School and executive director of the Fascia Training Academy, to explore the science behind fascia and its impact on athletic performance, injury prevention and longevity.Bill shares how his own journey as an athlete led him to discover the power of fascia and why it is often overlooked by traditional training methods.He breaks down the la...
2025-02-1251 minStrength Coach CollectiveStrength Coach Collective: Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and ApplicationThe human species is evolving—or rather, devolving: For the first time in history, we’re living longer, but we’re less healthy. Chris Cooper, Two-Brain Business founder and a fitness trainer of 30+ years, wants to fix that problem by helping coaches and personal trainers turn the tide.In this inaugural episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Chris introduces the show’s mission of bridging the gap between new advances in science and their real-world applications in coaching. He also previews some of the expert coaches who will be hosting the show, such as gym owners Ke...
2025-01-1708 min
Run a Profitable GymFifty Years of Fitness Knowledge: Jim Adams and Chris CooperJim Adams knows a few things about the fitness business—after all, he's been in it for more than 30 years.He's been a personal trainer in big-box gyms and he's opened his own studio. He's worn all the hats of his business and he's learned how to hire and develop a great team. He's also the founder and host of the Masters in Fitness Business Podcast, where he speaks with successful fitness entrepreneurs.In this episode, Chris picks Jim's brain on everything from the lessons he's learned developing his business acumen to where the fitness in...
2021-01-2836 min