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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry welcomes back Pratik Patel—former NFL and Division I performance coach—for a raw and unfiltered conversation about the current state of social media, training misinformation, and why athletes (and coaches) need to be way more critical of who they follow and listen to.

Fueled by recent rants and debates on Twitter, Pratik lays out:

• Why influencers with no athlete experience are dominating the narrative
• How to filter bad advice and identify credible voices in the sea of online noise
• The problem with “coaches” selling courses before gaining real-world experience
• Why some viral content is built purely for engagement—not athlete development
• The value of showing actual athlete progress—not just highlight reels
• How metrics, testing, and simple logic still reign supreme in real training

The conversation also digs into vertical jump progress, the realities of building an online business like OnlyStrength, and the frustration of seeing coaches with real experience get drowned out by louder (and often less qualified) voices.

This is a must-listen for athletes, coaches, and parents trying to navigate fitness content online and understand the difference between entertainment and expert education.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro and Why Pratik Returned for This Episode
2:08 – Social Media's Influence on Training Narratives
3:15 – How Algorithms Reward Misinformation
6:06 – The Value of Real-World Coaching Experience
11:57 – When Big Accounts Attack Small Creators
15:45 – Why Athletes Need Better Context in Programming
19:03 – The Jalen Hurts/Saquon Squatting Debate
23:42 – Online Gurus Selling Courses Without Real Work
28:52 – The Reality of Building a Membership Platform
31:50 – Why Data-Driven Feedback Matters for Buy-In
34:00 – Performance vs. Injury Prevention at the Pro Level
36:41 – Off-Field Behavior and Coach-Athlete Trust
38:57 – How Athletes Can Vet Social Media Advice
41:04 – What to Look for in a Credible Coach
42:21 – Explaining the Why Behind Exercises
44:45 – Don’t Copy NBA/Pro Athlete Workouts
46:30 – The Problem With “Genetic Outliers” Giving Advice
47:32 – Youth Sports, Overload, and Lack of Strength Training
48:06 – Final Thoughts on Who to Trust and What Actually Works
53:01 – Pratik’s Next Project: High-Level Education Without the Noise

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry welcomes Sean Swetnam, Assistant Director of Football Performance at UCLA, to break down how elite-level training, data integration, and interdisciplinary collaboration are fueling performance gains at one of college football’s top programs.

Sean walks us through the first eight weeks of UCLA’s offseason training block—where the team collectively gained over 546 pounds of lean mass and lost 353 pounds of fat. He shares how they built that foundation through smart, brutal training combined with seamless collaboration across strength coaches, athletic trainers, and dietitians.

Topics include:

• Training structure across the week (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri)
• How testing is embedded in training to avoid wasted sessions
• Integrating sprint, plyo, and strength metrics into one performance picture
• What their Bod Pod, CMJ, NordBord, and drop jump data really means
• Why athletes don’t need complexity—they need consistency
• Getting athlete buy-in through performance standards, leadership shirts, and cultural touchstones
• Real-life examples of how data flags help prevent injury and manage readiness

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or performance nerd, this episode is a masterclass in high-performance systems that actually work.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro and Sean’s Background: From D1 Baseball to D1 Strength Coach
 4:30 – Training Roots, Mentorship, and Lessons from Track and Field
 8:45 – How College Training Culture Has Changed
 12:30 – Mass vs. Movement: Gaining the Right Weight
 17:50 – Building Muscle and Speed: UCLA’s 8-Week Gains Breakdown
21:30 – Weekly Training Split and Foundational Strength Structure
24:50 – Eccentric Training, Tempos, and Intent-Driven Movement
27:00 – How Bod Pod and Morning Hydration Data Drive Decisions
30:50 – Daily Readiness Testing: NordBord, CMJ, Drop Jumps & More
34:15 – Using RSI, GCT, and Peak Power to Monitor Sprint Progress
38:45 – Why Readiness Metrics Need Context (Not Panic)
42:00 – Buy-In Through Competition: Leaderboards, Crowns, and Standards
46:30 – Teaching Athletes to Understand Data and Why It Matters
50:00 – Managing Stress vs. Eustress in College Athletes
51:45 – Final Thoughts: Control the Controllables, Train with Purpose

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry sits down with Malorie Henderlong, Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Auburn University, to discuss her journey through college strength and conditioning, breaking down outdated training mindsets, and creating performance systems that actually serve athletes.

Malorie opens up about her coaching stops at Baylor, UNC, NC State, and now Auburn—detailing how mentorship, trial-and-error, and trusting her gut have shaped her philosophy. She gets into:

• Why the weight room is misunderstood in team sports, especially soccer
• How to build athlete trust, autonomy, and buy-in
• The importance of training for long-term durability over passing fitness tests
• How and why conditioning is still widely misused in the college space
• Why being a great coach also means knowing how to “sell” your ideas with humility

The conversation also explores match-day plus/minus training models, how to structure in-season lifts for high and low-minute players, and why soccer-specific training needs to evolve beyond just running laps and hoping for the best.

Coaches, athletes, and sports staff at every level will benefit from Malorie’s raw honesty, systems thinking, and practical strategies for optimizing performance without sacrificing athlete health or development.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro to Malorie and Her Journey Across College Programs
4:06 – Chasing the Right Roles, Not Just Titles
7:08 – Coaching at Auburn and Building Out a Sports Science Department
9:00 – Internships, Mentorship, and Learning from Brutal Feedback
12:11 – Investing in Young Coaches and Paying It Forward
13:52 – Why Some Coaches Still Fear the Weight Room
16:18 – Building Trust with Coaches Through Education and Language
21:24 – Why Strength Training Matters for Team Sport Athletes
25:52 – Transfer to Sport: Acceleration, Decel, and Foundational Strength
29:25 – Biggest Conditioning Mistakes and Outdated Approaches
32:06 – Rethinking “Mental Toughness” and Contextual Fatigue
34:47 – Learn the Sport, Then Reverse Engineer the Training
37:24 – Winning Coach Buy-In Through Relatable Language and Logic
41:05 – When “Learning the Hard Way” Helps Create Buy-In
44:33 – Offseason Conditioning: Play More, Sprint More, Lift More
46:52 – The Problem with Fitness Tests (and What to Do Instead)
51:37 – Misplaced Priorities: Testing vs. Actual Match Readiness
56:34 – Match Day Plus/Minus: In-Season Programming Done Right
1:01:09 – Auto-Regulation, Athlete Autonomy, and Keeping It Simple
1:03:15 – Training in Chaos: From Structured Plans to Afrobeat Sessions
1:06:42 – Match Day Periodization Across Sports
1:08:20 – Final Advice: Learn the Sport, Learn Your Coaches

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry is joined by Matt Gebert, newly appointed strength and conditioning coach for Auburn Football, previously at Arizona. Matt brings a deep dive into real-world speed development for football players, with a focus on position-specific programming, sprint mechanics, and how to effectively use the high/low model for both performance and injury prevention.

They break down:

• The SMAS sprint mechanics scoring system: a free and objective way to evaluate and improve sprinting posture and efficiency
• Sprint training for linemen vs. skill positions: why all positions need sprint exposure—but not in the same way
• The “butt-kick epidemic” in football and how to correct poor front-side mechanics
• Blending acceleration and max velocity days, and how to match plyometric and strength work to ground contact demands
• High/low training structure in the off-season vs. in-season, and how to individualize workloads based on playing time
• Speed testing and leaderboards to increase athlete engagement and competitive drive

Matt also shares how to handle athlete autonomy on game day, how to create buy-in without micromanaging, and yes—how one NFL athlete used tomatoes in a bizarre pre-game routine.

This one is packed with practical strategies for organizing large football rosters, individualizing training based on need and position, and pushing athletic performance while keeping guys healthy.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Intro to the Episode and Guest, Matt Gebert
• 3:17 – Foundational Training and Social Media Gimmicks
• 6:33 – Influence of Joe DeFranco and Cam Josse on Matt’s Approach
• 9:46 – Sprint Mechanics Assessment (SMAS): Objective Speed Analysis
• 14:25 – Addressing Positional Differences: Linemen vs. Skill Players
• 20:00 – Butt-Kicking Epidemic and Front/Back Side Mechanics
• 23:37 – Using Cues vs. Addressing Physical Limitations
• 27:16 – Sprint Training Design for Linemen: 2 Accel Days + Adjusted MaxV
• 30:08 – Ground Contact Matching in Plyometrics and Lifts
• 32:49 – High/Low Programming Model in the Off-Season
• 34:54 – In-Season Adjustments and Stress Regulation with Practice
• 39:46 – Lifting Structure Based on Player Participation
• 40:34 – Game Day Warm-Up Structure and Athlete Autonomy
• 44:38 – Craziest Game Day Routine: The Tomato Knees
• 45:50 – Weekly Speed Days, Testing Setups, and Competition Culture
• 51:35 – Extracting Peak Output: Why Competition Drives Performance
• 52:32 – Final Thoughts and Coaching Philosophy

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry welcomes speed and performance specialist Jorge Carvajal for a deep dive into building real-world speed, athlete resilience, and cutting through the noise in the world of performance training.

Jorge shares insights from over 30 years in the field, including experiences working with NFL athletes, tactical athletes, and elite performers across multiple sports. The conversation starts with Jorge’s early mentorship under Tony Villani and how it completely shifted his understanding of speed development—taking him from a strength-only coach to a true performance coach.

They unpack:

• The evolution from "strength coach" to "performance coach"
• Why sprinting must be in your program (and why it’s non-negotiable for speed)
• Understanding load management, especially for high school athletes
• The balance between “less is more” and doing enough to move the needle
• Force absorption and the overlooked importance of deceleration training
• Using testing data to know when to push strength and when to back off
• Why context is king in coaching decisions (especially with parents and over-programmed athletes)

Jorge also shares practical wisdom on athlete recovery, how to manage central nervous system fatigue, and why smart, simple programming beats trendy overcomplication every time.
This is an absolute masterclass for coaches and athletes looking to train smarter, avoid injuries, and get faster—without falling into the trap of chasing numbers for the sake of it.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to the Episode and Guest, Jorge Carvajal
2:24 – Jorge’s Start and Early Mentorship from Tony Villani
7:39 – Rethinking Ladder Drills and Purpose-Driven Application
12:10 – Humbling Lessons on Speed: "I Realized I Knew Nothing"
16:00 – Jorge’s Evolution: From Strength Coach to Performance Coach
19:54 – Contextual Coaching: What Do Your Athletes Really Need?
23:08 – Sprinting and Strength: Knowing When Enough is Enough
29:04 – Avoiding Excessive Mass Gains That Slow Athletes Down
33:35 – Chasing Numbers vs. Chasing Results: Keep the Context
37:11 – Load Management: Avoiding Overload, Especially in Young Athletes
42:12 – Why High School Strength Coaches Deserve Huge Respect
44:58 – Less is More: Structuring Sprint Workouts for Recovery
48:15 – Monitoring Athlete Readiness and Recovery Daily
53:08 – When Strength Stops Translating to Performance
57:48 – Deceleration Training: Building Better, Safer Athletes
1:02:10 – Film Study and Sport-Specific Application of Deceleration
1:05:11 – Final Thoughts: Stay Humble, Stay Curious, and Keep Learning

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry sits down with elite strength coach and performance consultant William Wayland to dig deep into what truly drives long-term athlete development—and what doesn’t.

They waste no time diving into the overuse of unstable surface training, especially in rotational sports like golf and baseball, and why chasing “core stability” often misses the point. William explains how performance has been overtaken by gimmicks and fear-driven training methods and provides clear, practical alternatives rooted in real-world results.

They also discuss:

• Hand-supported squats and RDLs as tools to break through strength plateaus
• Training adaptations in-season vs. off-season
• The importance of context and communication when working with athletes
• Neck training and its underappreciated role in performance and injury prevention
• AI in coaching, and why great coaches offer more than spreadsheets and rep schemes

From tackling social media misinformation to offering real solutions for building resilient, high-performing athletes, this episode is a masterclass in modern coaching.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro to the Episode and Guest, William Wayland
3:12 – The Problem with Unstable Surface Training in Sport
7:39 – Social Media Influence and Why Gimmicks Go Viral
10:25 – Fear of Loading and the Rise of “Safe but Useless” Training
16:00 – Real Force Production vs. Balance Drills
18:42 – Breaking Strength Plateaus with Hand-Supported Variations
25:00 – In-Season vs. Off-Season Programming Adjustments
29:36 – Novelty, Monotony, and When to Change Training Stimuli
34:00 – The Role of Communication and Subjective Feedback
37:47 – Coaching in Chaos: Travel, Sleep, and Agile Programming
42:00 – AI and the Future of Strength Coaching
48:22 – Neck Training: Benefits, Myths, and Practical Programming
55:32 – When and How to Program Neck Work
58:23 – Evidence vs. Experience: Finding the Balance
1:01:18 – Final Thoughts on Craftsmanship in Coaching

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry sits down with Justin Wickard—track and field coach, speed expert, and founder of Tier One Athlete—to break down what it really takes to get athletes faster.

With nearly two decades of experience across Division I programs like TCU and Air Force, Justin shares his journey from intern to elite sprint coach, and how his philosophy has evolved from traditional volume-heavy training to a precision-based approach rooted in movement quality, recovery, and intent.

• The conversation dives deep into:
• Why mechanics matter more than gimmicks
• The misunderstood role of sleds and resistance sprinting
• Why posture and pelvic positioning are crucial for top-end speed
• How to avoid “speed lock” and overstimulating the CNS
• Why submaximal sprinting may be a missing piece
• The limits of strength and when it stops translating to speed

They also take aim at the overhyped obsession with 40-yard dash times, dissect the pros and cons of modern speed trends on social media, and explore how team sport coaches can better integrate proven track and field methods.

If you're a coach or athlete looking to cut through the noise and learn how to actually improve speed—without sacrificing movement, health, or long-term development—this one’s a must-listen.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to the Episode and Guest, Justin Wickard
3:16 – Coaching Journey: 14 Years in College Track & Field
7:50 – The Power of Mentorship and Learning from Elite Coaches
10:43 – Evolving as a Coach: From Volume to Recovery-Based Programming
17:06 – The 40-Yard Dash: Misconceptions, Realistic Standards, and NFL Combine Talk
23:37 – Building Acceleration: Coordination, Strength, and Common Mistakes
27:52 – The Sled Debate: How It’s Misused and When to Avoid It
29:18 – Max Velocity: Mechanics, Posture, and Injury Prevention
34:25 – Submaximal Sprinting: Slowing Down to Speed Up
38:02 – Less vs. More: Finding the Right Sprint Volume for Each Athlete
41:08 – Avoiding the Trap of “Speed Branding” on Social Media
44:11 – How Much Speed Work is Enough (or Too Much)?
47:10 – Agility, Change of Direction, and Being an All-Around Athlete
48:15 – Bridging Track and Team Sports: What Coaches Can Learn From Each Other
52:00 – Wickets, Programming Nuance, and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry welcomes Brad Dixon, head football coach, track coach, and advocate for the Feed the Cats training philosophy. Brad shares his journey from traditional, old-school coaching methods to a more data-driven and athlete-first approach, optimizing both speed and strength for long-term athletic development.

Brad breaks down how he transitioned from overloading athletes with conditioning to implementing sprint-based training, why max velocity work is often the missing link in high school sports, and how to balance weight room training with speed development. He also dives into the biggest misconceptions about Feed the Cats, why football coaches often resist change, and the importance of adapting training models to individual athletes instead of following generic plans.

They also discuss how to integrate speed training into multi-sport schedules, why strength alone isn’t enough, and how to create a system that keeps athletes healthy while maximizing their performance.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to the Episode and Guest, Brad Dixon
3:17 – From Old-School Training to Feed the Cats
7:39 – The Shift in Strength and Conditioning Principles
12:10 – Social Media’s Role in Spreading Training Trends
15:35 – Addressing Misconceptions About Feed the Cats
19:54 – Why Max Velocity Training is the Missing Link
23:37 – Balancing Strength and Speed in Training Programs
26:23 – The Role of Game Speed in Athletic Development
30:24 – Overcoming Resistance to New Training Methods
39:46 – The Real Definition of Hard Work in Sports
44:15 – How to Program for Speed, Strength, and Recovery
51:01 – The Future of Coaching: Adaptation and Growth
54:11 – Final Thoughts: Train Smart, Recover Well, and Keep Learning

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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry welcomes back Ben Brewster, founder of Tread Athletics, to discuss the evolving landscape of pitching development, strength training, and how technology and social media are shaping modern training methods.

Ben shares insights on the advancements in pitch tracking technology, how social media influences training trends (for better or worse), and the role of strength training in pitching performance. He also breaks down the pitfalls of over-relying on training gadgets, how athletes should filter out misinformation, and why understanding biomechanics is critical for long-term success.

They dive into the balance between strength training and skill development, the importance of movement quality, and why "sports-specific" training often misses the mark. Ben also reveals his “toothpaste tube” analogy for squeezing out every last bit of performance potential and shares lessons from his personal journey—from a 150-pound high school freshman to a 98-mph professional pitcher.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to the Episode and Guest, Ben Brewster
3:17 – The Evolution of Pitching and Strength Training
7:39 – How Technology Has Transformed Training
12:10 – Social Media’s Role in Training Trends
15:35 – The Problem with Over-Specialization in Youth Sports
19:54 – The Spread of Training Misconceptions Online
23:37 – The Debate on Strength vs. Skill-Specific Training
26:23 – Finding the Right Balance Between Lifting and Throwing
30:24 – The Role of Movement Quality and Injury Prevention
39:46 – Misconceptions About Strength Training in Pitching
44:15 – How to Train Smarter and Avoid Overtraining
51:01 – The “Toothpaste Tube” Analogy for Peak Performance
54:11 – Final Thoughts: Maximizing Every Training Opportunity

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In this episode, Gerry welcomes Quentin Wiley, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and strength coach at the University of North Carolina, to discuss the intersection of rehab and performance training. Quentin shares insights on the growing hype around fascia-based training, movement variability for injury prevention, and the balance between treatment, recovery, and foundational training principles. They also explore the role of social media in shaping training trends, common misconceptions in strength and conditioning, and how to bridge the gap between rehab and performance.

Quentin breaks down why movement variability is key to reducing injury risk, the overuse of passive recovery modalities, and why training should focus on long-term athlete resilience rather than gimmicks. He also dives into the role of strength training in injury prevention, how manual therapy is often misunderstood, and why many athletes overcomplicate recovery instead of prioritizing sleep, hydration, and nutrition.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to the Episode and Guest, Quentin Wiley
3:17 – Quentin’s Background: From UNC Lacrosse to Physical Therapy
7:39 – Transition from Athlete to Strength Coach and DPT
12:10 – Social Media’s Role in Strength and Rehab Trends
15:35 – The Problem with Over-Specialization in Youth Sports
19:54 – How Training Misconceptions Spread Through Social Media
23:37 – The Debate on Movement Variability for Injury Prevention
26:23 – Strength Training vs. Rehab: Finding the Balance
30:24 – Fascia Training Hype: Science vs. Pseudoscience
39:46 – Why Passive Recovery Methods Are Overrated
44:15 – The Role of Manual Therapy in Pain Management
51:01 – How Strength Training Builds Resilience and Injury Prevention
54:11 – Final Thoughts: Smart Training, Recovery, and Avoiding Gimmicks 

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