We’re back this week, live from Sorinex (https://www.sorinex.com/), and pull up our chairs with Jon Heck and Gabe Watson for a conversation that starts with rivalries and ends up somewhere much more useful. Jon walks through his shift from NFL and college strength coaching to his Hammer and Chisel Performance Podcast(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hammer-and-chisel-performance-podcast/id1835141652) and running his own business full-time built on every coach's favorite training app, TrainHeroic (https://account.trainheroic.com/create-account). Gabe shares the story behind his first full-time college gig, as a former player who has seen what every division of college football looks like, landing an assistant role at Colorado State after a DM to a coach he barely knew turned into a job offer within 24 hours, and talks about navigating the whirlwind of college strength and conditioning, where a single phone call can mean packing up your life within days.

From there the group digs into the power of just showing up and following up at industry events, why authenticity matters more than looks or a jacked physique when it comes to being an effective coach, and the so-called "sleeper build" debate: can a coach who isn't shredded still be great at their job? They also get into staying the authority in the room with clients, giving yourself grace after a missed lift, and why leaving a job the right way always comes back around.

Whether you're a coach navigating team vs. private sector, or just someone building a personal brand in fitness, this one's packed with real talk on relationships, reinvention, and staying in your lane.

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LETS GET SOCIAL:

Jon Heck:

Insta - (https://www.instagram.com/what_the_heck71/?hl=en)

Youtube - (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMfKtcEK85qgSOB7rKdUmpw)

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Gabe Watson:

Insta - (https://www.instagram.com/gabe_watson_33/?hl=en)

About Jon Heck:

My name is Jon Heck. I played football at the University of North Carolina where I was a 4 year starter and 2x All-ACC selection at offensive tackle for the Tar Heels. I graduated with a degree in Exercise Sport Science, and immediately received certifications as a nutritionist and strength and conditioning coach. I began my career as a strength and conditioning coach and spent nearly a decade working in football strength and conditioning at the NFL and Division-1 college level, as well as working in the private sector at a combine prep facility. I competed at a high level in powerlifting and strongman, and have always been passionate about strength sports in general. A big part of my educational background is in nutrition, and that has been a large component of my coaching in football and the private sector.

About Gabe Watson:

Gabe Watson was added to the Colorado State football strength and conditioning staff in January of 2026. It will be his first full-time role in the field.

He spent the past two years working at Nebraska in football development performance in a quality control role. Previously, he did an internship in football performance at Texas.

Watson played at Sioux Falls, were he gained 1,980 career yards as a running back with 27 touchdowns, and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award (D2's Heisman Trophy) in 2018. Finished his playing career at Texas, playing two seasons.

Produced and Edited by: The Cast Collective (Nashville, TN)

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