Eat the Week

Dr Ben Skutnik and fellow Power Athlete Certified Coach, Dr Tim Cummings, break down what it actually takes to stay athletic as you get older. From sprinting and strength training to recovery, consistency, and knowing when to push or pull back, they explain how to keep building a body that can perform for decades.

Getting older doesn’t mean giving up speed, strength, or explosiveness. You just need to play the long game.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW10

Timestamps:

00:00 — Tim’s return to sprinting at 50

01:42 — Bedrock training and developing a more athletic mindset

02:49 — How sprinting loads the body differently from lifting

03:48 — Training with intention instead of going through the motions

04:21 — Staying focused during lifts and sprint work

05:21 — Adjusting training when the week’s schedule changes

06:04 — Consistency versus heroic effort

07:29 — How regular training supports tissue durability

08:28 — Ramping back into sprinting after time off

09:03 — Tim’s first hard sprint session back

10:19 — Maintaining training qualities during a disrupted week

11:15 — Progressive overload as a gradual process

12:19 — How adult responsibilities and stress affect training

13:43 — Considering the whole person, not just the sore body part

15:08 — “When life is really heavy, the weight should be really light”

16:19 — Load management lessons from professional sports

18:08 — LeBron James and managing the demands of a long career

21:02 — Balancing training intent with realistic self-assessment

22:35 — Why advanced training calls for competency and awareness

24:46 — Warm-ups should prepare specific movement patterns

25:37 — How repeated training builds self-awareness

27:12 — Why cool-downs deserve more attention

28:49 — Preparation and recovery as part of the training process

31:22 — Why sprint preparation takes time and focus

33:08 — Becoming better at assessing your own training

34:50 — Adjusting a lift without abandoning the workout’s purpose

35:52 — Knowing when to adapt and when to ask for guidance

37:18 — How coaching and community can build understanding

40:07 — Asking questions instead of trying to figure everything out alone

41:41 — Why reaching out early may help prevent a lengthy setback

43:13 — Learning to distinguish

Losing weight is simple. Keeping it off is where things get complicated. Dr Ben Skutnik and fellow Power Athlete Master Coach, Johnny Durrett, break down why diets fail, the role of accountability, and how to build nutrition habits that actually survive real life.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW009

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome back and the case for All Access training

01:43 - Why having multiple programs helps with travel and life changes

03:12 - Iron Flex as the most useful “force multiplier”

05:05 - The nutrition question that sparked the conversation

06:12 - John’s 315-pound starting point in high school

08:14 - Which was harder: losing weight or getting in shape?

09:42 - A terrible first experience with nutrition coaching

10:07 - Acting, body image, and being told what roles were off limits

12:00 - The airplane seatbelt moment and the reality check

12:59 - Treating weight loss like a skill problem

13:27 - Learning nutrition by tracking food and reading textbooks

14:50 - Getting in shape through trial and error in the gym

16:46 - Why food environment and family habits make dieting harder

17:51 - Subtle weight gain gets ignored until it compounds

18:49 - Why the obesity epidemic exists alongside more gym culture

20:30 - Looking leaner versus just getting smaller

21:28 - The bad math of training hard on 2,000 calories a day

22:24 - Denny’s, three Grand Slams, and the cost of restriction

23:45 - Why coaching finally helped John look leaner, not just smaller

24:14 - Hammer 90 and a more sustainable way to cut

25:09 - Why nutrition coaching solves the 24-hour problem, not just gym time

26:03 - The bank account analogy for dieting and maintenance

27:55 - Why cutting weight too hard hurts performance and recovery

28:42 - Weight-class athletes and the logic problem with last-minute cuts

30:25 - Why “I can do it myself” usually means you need help

31:22 - The food system, constant temptation, and self-awareness

32:32 - Weight gain as a check engine light

33:13 - Temptation everywhere after leaving the gym

34:41 - Why having a post-workout food plan matters

35:40 - Coaching as accountability, not punishment

36:36 - Grandmas, birthday pie, and getting back on track

38:29 - Why coaching can be temporary and still life-changing

39:25 - Regaining control when life changes

40:34 - The biggest benefit of a coach is sharing the load

41:12 - Why three months is a useful cut timeline

42:22 - Why six months of coaching is often smarter than three

43:32 - Not everyone needs to lose weight, but many do

44:11 - Telling the truth without judgment

45:31 - Why awareness and honesty beat shame

46:21 - Why doing it once teaches you that you can do it again

47:31 - Buy nutrition coaching before over-investing in training

48:18 - Weighing and measuring food is not crazy

48:44 - Why daily weigh-ins are useful, especially for athletes

50:28 - Why weight-class athletes should avoid chaotic cuts

51:51 - Amateur competitors should make life easier, not harder

52:49 - Why nutrition is harder the first time around

53:12 - Finding the right coach and paying it forward

53:55 - Coaching options, one-on-one time, and how to reach Johnny

55:16 - Hammer 90 timing and closing remarks

Stop obsessing over perfect sleep, recovery scores and optimization. Dr. Ben Skutnik and Dr. Hunter Waldman break down why resilience, consistency and knowing your own body matter more than chasing perfect conditions.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW008

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction

01:01 Balancing family life and training

01:57 Training during busy schedules

04:03 Self-experimentation and N of one approach

14:55 Incorporating sprints and conditioning

20:01 The importance of community and stress management

30:01 Evolutionary perspective on sleep and stress

39:57 The role of mindset and placebo in training

49:55 Practical guidelines for daily performance

59:56 Research projects and future directions

Being strong is great. Being strong, conditioned, mobile and hard to break is better.

After nearly two decades in law enforcement, Tyson Shumway joins Ben to talk durability, aerobic conditioning, recovery and why building a body that can handle whatever life throws at it matters more than what you can bench.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW07

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Tyson's background

02:01 Balancing law enforcement, family, and fitness

03:53 Training evolution from CrossFit to power athlete programs

06:56 Community's role in motivation and support

10:02 Training for durability and longevity in law enforcement

13:55 Overcoming setbacks and injuries

17:52 The importance of a well-rounded fitness approach

22:11 Lessons from a stroke and the focus on health

25:58 Psychological aspects of confidence and leadership

30:07 Supporting the next generation of first responders

35:50 Community growth and the power of shared experience

39:58 Final thoughts and Tyson's contact information

Everyone wants young athletes faster, stronger and more explosive. But chasing quick results is usually the problem.

Power Athlete Master Coach Matt Sullivan joins Ben to talk youth strength and conditioning, building a strong foundation, avoiding overuse injuries, and why consistency beats speed drills and shortcuts every time.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW006

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and guest background

01:50 Matt Sullivan's journey from archaeology to coaching

05:07 Early influences and transition into strength training

10:09 Experiences working with high-level athletes

15:01 The importance of foundational training for youth

19:51 Building confidence and patience in young athletes

25:06 Balancing performance goals with athlete well-being

29:46 Advice for parents and young athletes

34:57 The role of consistency and long-term focus

39:53 Overcoming challenges and self-doubt in coaching

44:59 Where to find Matt Sullivan and final thoughts

Dr Tim Cummings joins Ben to share his journey from athlete to physical therapist and coach, emphasizing the importance of foundational movement, performance-based rehab, and the power of simple, consistent training principles for all ages.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW05

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and guest overview

01:30 Tim's background and early athletic career

02:29 Transition from athlete to exercise science

04:20 Exposure to Russian training models

05:14 Realization of the broken PT system

06:12 Starting a direct-to-consumer practice

07:32 Shift to performance-focused rehab

09:26 The concept of athleticism and holistic training

11:17 Performance mindset at any age

13:20 The importance of movement quality and prep

16:10 Returning to basics and mastery

19:41 Training during the pandemic and personal experience

22:00 Injury prevention and real-world application

25:02 Initial client assessment and personalized programming

28:45 Training with family and age-related considerations

30:58 Structuring training with time constraints

33:12 Rehab as performance training

36:28 Injury timelines and sensory system recovery

39:23 The dose-response principle in training and rehab

41:40 Listening to your body and training signals

44:45 Resources and contact information

The advice to “train safe” can quietly turn into training small. Johnny Durrett joins Dr Ben Skutnik to explain how he broke out of maintenance mode, reignited his competitive edge, and started training like an athlete again - at 37, after years of doing everything right on paper but feeling like something was missing.

If you’ve ever looked at your routine and thought, “This is fine, but is this actually moving me forward?”, this conversation hits hard. Essential listening if you need a reset, a new goal, or just a reason to fall in love with training again.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/ETW04

Timestamps

00:00 - Lost episode, community context, and introducing John Durrett

 01:12 - Weather talk and the everyday life of a coach

 02:19 - Why John is such a central voice in the Power Athlete community

 03:34 - How John first got into coaching full time

 04:32 - The middle school parking lot moment that changed everything

 06:21 - Taking the strength and conditioning job and leaving teaching

 08:40 - CrossFit Football seminar and the early Power Athlete influence

 10:46 - How Power Athlete shifted his view from bodybuilding and CrossFit to athletic development

11:44 - The MMA gym opportunity that forced another leap

13:11 - Support from clients and the community during a risky career change

15:34 - Why getting Block One became the next step

17:02 - Athleticism as the North Star for training

18:20 - Why simple training principles are often the most powerful

21:30 - John’s early bodyweight, obesity, and relationship with food

24:18 - Martial arts as the one sport he always loved

25:43 - Getting into weight training as a kid

28:29 - The mirror moment that made his identity shift

29:53 - Training hard for years, cutting weight, and building momentum

33:13 - Why athletic training keeps him able to pivot into different phases of life

34:48 - The reawakening of John Durrett and why Hammer 90 changed his mindset

36:29 - Searching for meaning and realizing Grindstone had become too comfortable

38:19 - Why Hammer 90 felt real because of the people, leaderboard, and accountability

40:40 - Rediscovering the love of training

43:29 - Why Hammer 90 fit his lifestyle better than Field Strong at the time

44:54 - The trap of being “good enough” with maintenance training

46:42 - What changed in John’s energy and presence after recommitting

47:23 - Coaching from a different place now that he is training with purpose again

48:21 - How he sells Power Athlete programs to members at his MMA gym

49:18 - Using Bedrock for return to play after a bike accident

50:57 - Why coaches need to walk the walk

51:45 - What listeners may be missing if they want their own reawakening

52:51 - Why Bedrock is brutally effective and not for the complacent

54:09 - Why everyone should train for something specific

55:32 - Organizing a 5K and getting the gym community into a race

56:52 - A 70 something client, training, and putting Yosemite on the calendar

59:12 - Ballroom dancing, obstacle course racing, and the value of having an event

60:48 - If you are not training for something, you may not be training as a power athlete

61:45 - Where to find John and where to train at Underdog

Master Power Athlete Coach, Dr Ben Skutnik, sits down with former CrossFit Games athlete Pat Barber to talk training, fatherhood, youth sports, and what it actually takes to raise capable, resilient humans.

If you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or anyone trying to build stronger habits without becoming a dictator, this episode gives you a sharper framework for what actually matters.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW03

The Father’s Guild: https://www.thefathersguild.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefathersguild
The Father’s Guild Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/thefathersguild/about

Dr. Ben Skutnik is joined by fellow Power Athlete Certified Master Coach Dennis Dolan, who shares his journey from athletic trainer to Power Athlete Master Coach and why intentional movement is the foundation of long-term performance.

The conversation explores how patience, consistency, and adaptability create better athletes, whether you're chasing performance, returning from injury, or simply looking to move better for life. Ben and Dennis break down practical strategies for reducing injury risk, building effective warm-up routines that actually prepare you to train, and developing the mindset needed to keep improving at any age.

If you want straightforward coaching advice you can apply immediately, this episode delivers practical takeaways without the BS.

Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW02

Time stamps:

00:00 - Ben introduces Dennis Dolan and the episode’s focus on training, readiness, and recovery

00:46 - Dennis’s background as a high school athletic trainer and how he found CrossFit Football

01:57 - The 2011 Denver seminar and why the Power Athlete approach made immediate sense

03:27 - Bedrock success with a “unicorn” athlete and how that led to deeper involvement

04:54 - Joining the beta group and becoming embedded in the organization

05:40 - Why Dennis functions like Power Athlete’s athletic trainer

08:23 - How Dennis uses warm-ups to expose limitations before the main session

09:48 - Why immediate feedback during warm-ups gets people bought in

11:31 - Adults versus younger athletes and how ego changes coaching

12:54 - The German language analogy for teaching movement

14:02 - Training around limitations without waiting to be “fully recovered”

15:12 - Why bad squat mechanics do not make someone a bad person

16:40 - Using basketball and sport examples to explain movement improvement

18:01 - Athlete mindset beyond sport and how it applies to work and life

19:49 - The top fault Dennis sees: movement without intent

21:38 - Why people need to move more and stop being so regimented

22:19 - Real-life movement examples, including kids and defensive athletic positions

24:04 - Scaling and substitutions to fit the athlete instead of forcing the template

25:21 - How Power Athlete coaches shift programming around injury, limits, and goals

26:42 - Not all agility work needs to look like sport, but it still has value

28:08 - Dennis’s own programming journey from collegiate to amateur and beyond

29:34 - Why he wants people to finish the full work, including sprints and prep

30:29 - Where Dennis is now: Bedrock, Field Strong, and Johnny Wad

31:35 - Getting stronger and faster in his 40s on Field Strong

32:22 - Why Ben wants more regular sprint work and better sprint prep

34:20 - Dennis’s wood bat baseball story and what it revealed about readiness

36:46 - Why people should start at the right dose instead of going all out

38:31 - The value of scaling intensity instead of avoiding movement

40:55 - Dennis’s final advice: be kinder to yourself and stay patient

43:53 - Where to find Dennis in Overland Park, Kansas and at Restore Thrive

45:00 - Why his clinic is cash-based and built around individualized care

Unlock the secret to becoming a more athletic, resilient version of yourself—without spending hours in the gym.

Power Athlete Master Coach David McKercher reveals how sprinting, strength, and consistency can transform your body and performance at any age. If you’ve ever felt stuck in traditional workouts, this episode will challenge your assumptions and show you a simple, proven path to better movement, faster recovery, and real athleticism.

David, a seasoned coach since 2006, shares how his evolution from internet commentator to elite trainer has shaped his approach. You’ll discover why sprinting is the ultimate foundation for functional strength—beyond just muscle building—and how to incorporate volume and intensity training safely, even if you’re new or been away for years. He breaks down the importance of authentic effort, the power of failure, and why continuous movement expression is the true goal of all training.

We also explore the broader philosophy of consistency, emphasizing that following a sound plan beats obsessing over perfect execution every time. Whether you're an adult looking to regain speed or an athlete aiming for peak performance, this episode redefines what it means to train productively and sustainably.

Hear why sprinting isn’t just about speed—it's the key to unlocking your full movement potential. Learn how to push your boundaries without risking injury and why effort, not just results, is what really matters. If you're tired of superficial routines and hungry for training that delivers real-world athleticism, this conversation will put you back on track. 

Tune in to find out how to turn your training into a lifelong expression of power and speed—at any age. Perfect for anyone committed to movement, performance, and long-term results. Don’t miss this blend of experience, science, and raw honesty from one of the most authentic voices in the fitness space.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to the podcast and guest, David McKercher

02:22 - Transition from internet persona to in-person coaching and community involvement

04:52 - David’s early athletic background and pathway into power athlete training

07:47 - The evolution of Power Athlete programming and program selection principles

09:29 - The role of athleticism, sprinting, and performance in training emphasis

11:23 - Personal experiences with sprinting progress and volume training benefits

12:47 - Restoring movement and expression through sprinting and athletic drills

15:00 - The importance of volume sprinting versus intensity efforts for repeatability

16:45 - Overcoming mental barriers and fear of sprinting in training environments

19:08 - The significance of failure, consistency, and realistic performance expectations

22:19 - The impact of hypertrophy work on sprinting and athletic performance

23:16 - Balancing training volume, intensity, and recovery for optimal results

26:10 - The importance of technical feedback and video analysis in sprinting progress

29:24 - Why skipping sprinting and expression is a missed opportunity in training plans

30:42 - Practical advice for adults and athletes to incorporate sprinting safely and effectively

34:17 - Combining strength, speed, and endurance for full athletic expression

36:17 - Mindset shift: trust the training process and consistency as the key to results

38:41 - The value of following programs closely and not skipping key components like sprinting

39:36 - Reaching out and connecting with coaches for personalized guidance

41:51 - Final thoughts: People helping people — the power of community and shared goals