エピソード

  • Stephen Calarco on Earned Empathy, Accountability, and Moving the Needle with Gen Pop Clients

    Stephen Calarco on Earned Empathy, Accountability, and Moving the Needle with Gen Pop Clients
    2026/09/27
    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 needleThoughts on body recomposition, and why your clients have to understand what their goals REALLY requireWhy meal prepping is such a critical piece of the body comp puzzleHow small comments can give you big insights into how your clients think about themselvesWhere to draw the line between coaching and therapyHow to hold clients accountable without shame or guilt (and why EVERY client is unique here)Cutting through the noise of social media as a coachHow to maximize your continuing education time and budgetHow 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. 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 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.
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    1 時間 21 分
  • Joel Jamieson on Cardiovascular Disease, Longevity Training, and Avoiding the Law of Averages

    Joel Jamieson on Cardiovascular Disease, Longevity Training, and Avoiding the Law of Averages
    2026/09/18
    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 mastermindWhy he built Morpheus, and why it’s designed to help you optimize YOUR personal fitnessThe family history that changed Joel’s view of heart diseaseWhy fit people are NOT immune to cardiovascular diseaseJoel gets a little nerdy on the types of cholesterol, and what to look for if you’re worried about tracking your numbersWhy exercise helps stabilize plaque—but may not stop itHigh- 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 agingWhy 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 WebsiteJoel 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. To 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 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.
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    56 分
  • 3 Core Competencies You MUST Develop to Build a Gym That Lasts (with Andy and Luka)

    3 Core Competencies You MUST Develop to Build a Gym That Lasts (with Andy and Luka)
    2026/09/07
    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 FIRSTAnd a corollary: Why even great marketing can’t save a weak productThe “trip over your own truth” moment – when numbers expose the real problem in your businessWhat 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 knowDream gym, Dream life: How to build backward from the life you actually wantThe power of personal leadership, and becoming the person the business requiresWhy your business will only grows as much as its leader Connect with Andy and Luka: Andy on InstagramLuka on InstagramBuilt to Last Gym Website Books Mentioned: Extreme OwnershipThe Hard Thing About Hard ThingsRadical Candor10-25Turn 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. To 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 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.
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    1 時間 14 分
  • Bill Hartman on Movement Models, Return to Play, and Playing the Probabilities

    Bill Hartman on Movement Models, Return to Play, and Playing the Probabilities
    2026/07/17
    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 worldsHis 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 predictionHow the model has evolved over time, but the core principles have stayed the sameBill’s approach to evaluating in the return to play processWhy you MUST know and understand the injury, the constraints, and the specific demands of the sportA big consideration: Injuries are rarely isolated, and why you have to look at all the pieces of the puzzle when creating a RTP programHow 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 themHow 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 themHow manual techniques and mobilizations fit into Bill’s treatment programs these daysFinal thoughts, and how you can learn more about Bill’s work! Connect with Bill: UHP NetworkRecon 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. To 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 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.
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    54 分
  • June Q&A #2: Performance Assessments, Return to Play, and Optimizing Knee Health

    June Q&A #2: Performance Assessments, Return to Play, and Optimizing Knee Health
    2026/06/26
    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 resourcesThe 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 athletesHow I’ve evolved my basketball assessment to dive in to the specific needs of hoopersThe technology and tools I use to evaluate my athletesSpecific tests and metrics I use for clearing athletes on my end in a RTP settingThe cadence that I’ve found works best when collaborating on an athletes injuryHow to make an RTP collab work when the practitioners aren’t in the same locationThe Stack, Slide and Swivel approach to bulletproofing kneesWhat changes when I’m writing an R7 program for basketball versus a “standard” programThe 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 Podcast3’s for Stronger Knees: Stack, Slide and Swivel Knee ArticleComplete Coach CertificationOptimizing Movement Workshop Recordings Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates! Hawkin 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.
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    41 分
  • June Q&A: Professional Mentorship, Unlocking Mobility, and Speed Training for Young Athletes

    June Q&A: Professional Mentorship, Unlocking Mobility, and Speed Training for Young Athletes
    2026/06/19
    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 communicatorTips on becoming more empathetic and understanding with your clients/athletesHow I structure speed development sessions with groups of 12-14 year old athletesThe SDC (Skill-Drill-Compete) framework I use for speed trainingHow important is it to do an assessment with your clients/athletes?Thoughts on improving thoracic mobilityQuick update/life recap on how I’m doing LOLRecovery strategies for young athletes who are playing multiple times in one day/weekendStructuring well-rounded programs for gen pop clientsHow I define a “high stim” dayHelping athletes get faster in the 60-yard dashFinal (and most heated) question: Why do I charge for my mentorship? Related Links: Speed Camp PodcastShoulder Mobility VideoAlwyn 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. To 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 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.
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    52 分
  • Tanner Care on Foot Strength, In-Season Training, and Unlocking an Athletes Superpowers

    Tanner Care on Foot Strength, In-Season Training, and Unlocking an Athletes Superpowers
    2026/06/12
    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 teamsHis overarching training philosophy and focus on athletic adaptationThe assessment process he uses to onboard and test his incoming athletesHow he buckets athletes based on his assessment to drive better adaptationsTanner’s thought process on integrating and collaborating with the team sports staffNavigating the (always tumultuous) in-season periodThe power of isometric training in-seasonWhy he originally became fascinated with foot and ankle trainingLow-hanging fruit with regards to improving foot and ankle functionAnd 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! Hawkin 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.
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    48 分
  • 7 Things I’m Thinking About (And Work/Life Updates)

    7 Things I’m Thinking About (And Work/Life Updates)
    2026/06/05
    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 WatsonHow I’m evolving my basketball-specific performance assessmentRandom 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 designThe power of the HEELS in sportDoing 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. 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 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.
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    44 分