Austin Current, author of The Science of Strength Training, joins me for a deep dive into what “optimal” really means - and doesn’t mean - in training, coaching, and everyday life.

We explore how perfectionism, online debates, and unrealistic standards can derail people who simply want to train well, feel good, and live a sustainable lifestyle.

Austin shares insight on:
• Why keeping promises to yourself builds self-belief
• Why it’s better to view your effort like a dial, not an on/off switch
• What he means by a Goldilocks zone in training and life
• The messy online war over what is “optimal”
• Why “good enough” is truly enough for most people’s exercise technique
• How to think about fatigue, form, and technique without overcomplicating training
• Whether two-a-day sessions are useful or unnecessary
• And much more

CHAPTERS

00:45 The Importance of Self-Belief and Keeping Promises
03:39 Balancing Professional and Personal Life
08:51 The Concept of 'Good Enough' in Fitness and Life
18:10 RP Strength and Personal Training Insights
22:03 Form, Technique, and Injury Prevention in Training
30:55 Training to Failure - Observations and Beliefs
32:33 Client Progress and Adaptation
34:07 Technique vs. Form - A Deeper Dive
35:40 Pattern Recognition in Training
37:14 Effective Coaching Cues
43:37 Two-a-Day Training Sessions - Pros and Cons
50:19 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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