Performance Matters Podcast

In Episode 81 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with Coach Aidan for a conversation about what actually makes an athlete jump higher — and how we train it.

We break down the qualities that influence vertical jump performance, including eccentric strength, braking ability, approach mechanics, force production, and the ability to rapidly transition from absorbing force to producing it.

We also get into:

• What force plate data can tell us about jump performance
• Why eccentric strength matters for jump athletes
• Submaximal vs. maximal vs. supramaximal eccentric training
• Olympic lifts vs. loaded jumps for developing power
• Why catching Olympic lifts can be valuable for athletes
• Bilateral vs. unilateral strength training
• Giving athletes more autonomy in their programs
• What we learned from using velocity-based training throughout the summer
• How VBT can help athletes better understand effort, load, and intent

And because it's an episode with Matrixx and Aidan, things inevitably get off track — including terrible excuses for missing workouts, which IPC athlete would survive a zombie apocalypse, and what IPC would become if we had to shut down the gym and start an entirely different business.

If you're a coach, athlete, or anyone interested in improving jump performance and understanding the "why" behind training, this episode is for you.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Coachology, an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches extend their expertise beyond in-person sessions through video analysis, personalized feedback, and ongoing athlete guidance.

www.coachology.ai

n Episode 80 of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with physiotherapist Malcolm Sanderson from ProActive Health & Rehab for a conversation about where rehabilitation and performance training need to meet.

With a background in powerlifting, personal training, and physiotherapy, Malcolm brings a unique perspective to the rehab world — one that isn’t afraid of appropriately loading people and challenging the idea that injured athletes need to be treated as fragile.

We get into the relationship between pain and injury, when athletes need protection versus when they need to start loading again, fear around movement, and why simply eliminating pain shouldn’t always be the finish line.

We also take a deeper dive into ACL rehabilitation, including the mistakes Malcolm commonly sees on both ends of the spectrum: doing too much too soon, but also failing to load athletes enough later in the process. Malcolm breaks down what he wants to see before an athlete returns to sport, including strength, confidence, time, and objective testing.

Other topics include:

• How Malcolm’s powerlifting background influences his approach to rehab
• Why rehab needs progressive overload too
• The gap between physiotherapy and strength & conditioning
• Pain, movement fear, and athlete confidence
• ACL rehab and return-to-sport testing
• Building tissue tolerance instead of constantly avoiding stress
• Why adding more reps isn’t always a real progression
• Using force plates and objective data in rehabilitation
• What performance coaches and clinicians can learn from each other

Whether you’re an athlete, parent, coach, or clinician, this episode is a great look at how we can move beyond simply getting someone “out of pain” and start preparing them to actually perform again.

🎙️ Performance Matters Podcast — Episode 80
Guest: Malcolm Sanderson, Physiotherapist — ProActive Health & Rehab

This episode is powered by Coachology.

Coachology is an AI coaching platform designed to help coaches and athletes collaborate more effectively through video analysis, personalized feedback, and AI coaching assistance — extending the coach’s expertise beyond in-person sessions and giving athletes ongoing, individualized guidance.

Learn more at: https://coachology.ai

If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe to Performance Matters on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and share the episode with someone who would get value from the conversation.

Artificial intelligence is changing the coaching landscape, but does that mean coaches are becoming obsolete?

In this episode of the Performance Matters Podcast, we're joined by Steve Delaney, Head Coach of the Brock University Women's Volleyball team and co-founder of Coachology, to discuss how AI is transforming athlete development, video analysis, and coaching feedback.

We dive into why AI isn't here to replace great coaches, it's here to eliminate repetitive tasks, create more learning opportunities, and help athletes receive meaningful feedback between training sessions. Steve also shares how Coachology is giving athletes personalized coaching based on a coach's own philosophy rather than generic AI responses.

We also discuss:

• Why AI should amplify coaches, not replace them.
• How video analysis is becoming more accessible than ever.
• Building your own coaching "avatar."
• Saving hours every week through smarter workflows.
• Where AI still falls short (and why human coaches remain essential).
• Brock Volleyball's journey from rebuilding a program to competing for a national championship.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or simply curious about where sport is headed, this conversation offers a practical look at one of the biggest shifts happening in coaching today.

🎙 This episode is proudly powered by Coachology.

Coachology is an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help coaches extend their expertise beyond the gym through personalized video analysis, individualized feedback, and intelligent coaching assistance. Rather than replacing the coach, Coachology helps scale your coaching impact while keeping your own philosophy at the center of every interaction.

www.coachology.ai

As summer winds down, we take a step back to reflect on one of the busiest training seasons we've ever had at Iron Performance Center—and the lessons we've learned from watching hundreds of athletes prepare for their upcoming seasons.

In this episode, we discuss the culture that's been built inside the gym, why consistency always beats motivation, and what separates athletes who continue to improve from those who stay stuck. We also dive into the biggest misconceptions parents and athletes have about strength & conditioning, why training should be treated like practice—not an optional extra—and how small daily decisions compound into long-term success.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or athlete heading into a new school year, this episode is packed with practical advice on building better habits, managing expectations, and maximizing your potential.

In this episode:

• Looking back on another incredible summer at IPC
• Why community creates better athletes
• The biggest mistake athletes make before their season starts
• Why strength training is no longer optional
• Advice for parents of young athletes
• Building consistency instead of relying on motivation
• Why the best athletes never stop improving
• The four pillars every successful student-athlete needs

If you're an athlete preparing for tryouts, a parent looking to support your child, or simply someone who wants to perform at a higher level, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube.

Performance Matters Podcast is proudly produced by Iron Performance Center, where we help athletes and adults build strength, improve performance, and reach their full potential.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Coachology—an AI-powered coaching platform that helps coaches deliver better feedback, improve communication, and extend their coaching beyond the training session.

www.coachology.ai

Not every workout should feel the same.

In this episode, Matrixx and Aidan dive into one of the biggest shifts we've made at Iron Performance Center—giving every training day a clear purpose. From BOOM days focused on force production to ZOOM, SPRING, SLING, and BUILD sessions, we discuss why understanding the intent behind training can help athletes get more from every rep.

Along the way, we also catch up on Aidan's trip to Portugal, discuss altitude training, laugh about roller coasters, Final Destination, home renovation projects, and somehow manage to tie it all back to becoming a better athlete.

As always, it's an honest conversation about performance, coaching, and everything in between.

In this episode:

• Why every training day should have a purpose
• The thinking behind the BOOM, ZOOM, SPRING, SLING & BUILD system
• How athletes progress from building capacity to expressing performance
• Aidan's Portugal travel highlights
• Altitude training experiences
• Roller coasters, Final Destination, and irrational fears

• DIY projects, workbenches, and learning new skills

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or someone who simply enjoys hearing how high-performance coaches think, this episode is packed with practical insights—and a few laughs along the way.

🎙 Performance Matters Podcast

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.

💪 This episode is brought to you by Iron Performance Center

Niagara's premier performance training facility, helping athletes of all levels get stronger, faster, and more resilient.

🌐 https://ironperformance.ca

Weight loss is one of the most common goals in fitness—but it's also one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode of the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx and Myles sit down for an honest conversation about Myles' own transformation, losing over 44 pounds (20 kg) while maintaining his strength, building healthier habits, and completely changing his relationship with nutrition.

Rather than chasing fad diets or quick fixes, they discuss why sustainable habits, consistency, and patience beat extremes every time.

Throughout the episode, they cover:

• Why weight loss is genuinely difficult—and why that's okay.
• The trigger that sparked Myles' transformation.
• How small, sustainable nutrition changes outperformed restrictive dieting.
• Maintaining (and even improving) strength while losing weight.
• The role of resistance training during fat loss.
• Why consistency always beats perfection.
• Building habits you can actually maintain for life.
• Identity, discipline, and becoming the example you want to be.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, get stronger, improve your health, or simply build better habits, this episode is packed with practical advice and an honest look at what long-term success really looks like.

Performance matters.

A huge thank you to our sponsors!

📸 Pete Methner Photography
Capturing athletes, teams, businesses, and unforgettable moments with professional photography throughout the Niagara Region.

💪 Iron Performance Center
Niagara's premier strength and conditioning facility helping athletes and adults train smarter, get stronger, and perform at their best.

In Episode 75 of the Performance Matters Podcast, we sit down with Steven Fife, founder and head coach of the Thorold Elite Track Club, to discuss how a simple "yes" to coaching a high school track team evolved into one of Niagara's premier track and field organizations.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Thorold Elite has grown from just four athletes to more than 300 members while producing national champions and developing athletes across all levels of sport.

Throughout the conversation, Steven shares the lessons he's learned while building the club, the importance of culture, and why long-term athlete development must always take priority over short-term success.

In this episode, we discuss:

✅ The growth story behind Thorold Elite Track Club
✅ Why track and field benefits athletes in every sport
✅ The biggest mistakes athletes make when trying to get faster
✅ Early specialization vs. multi-sport participation
✅ Physical literacy and age-appropriate athlete development
✅ Coaching philosophy, leadership, and building culture
✅ Mental preparation, competition anxiety, and performance routines
✅ The common traits shared by high-performing athletes
✅ Challenges facing local sport organizations and youth sport today

Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or simply passionate about youth sport, this episode is packed with valuable insights on developing athletes the right way and creating environments where young people can thrive for years to come.

💪 This episode is brought to you by Iron Performance Center — Niagara's premier performance training facility helping athletes jump higher, run faster, and perform at their highest level.

📸 A special thank you to Pete Methner Photography — Niagara's premier sports photographer, capturing the moments that matter most for athletes, teams, and families.

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In Episode 74 of the Performance Matters Podcast, we're joined by Steve Goar, co-director and coach of Niagara Athletics Volleyball Club, for a conversation that goes far beyond volleyball. Together, we dive into what it truly means to build culture, develop young athletes, and create environments where people can thrive both on and off the court.

Steve shares the story behind the creation of Niagara Athletics Volleyball Club, the lessons he's learned throughout nearly three decades of coaching, and why relationships, trust, and genuine care remain at the heart of athlete development. From navigating adversity and fostering resilience to empowering athletes to think for themselves, this episode is packed with insights for coaches, parents, athletes, and leaders alike.

In this episode, we discuss:

🏐 The vision behind Niagara Athletics Volleyball Club
🏐 Why culture is more than just a buzzword
🏐 The biggest changes in youth sport over the past 25 years
🏐 Social media, mental health, and today's athletes
🏐 Building resilient, self-sufficient competitors
🏐 Why great coaches teach athletes to solve their own problems
🏐 The habits that separate high performers from everyone else
🏐 Leadership, gratitude, and the lifelong lessons sport can teach us

This conversation is a reminder that while sport may only last a few years, the lessons learned through it can last a lifetime.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

This episode is brought to you by Iron Performance Center — Niagara's premier strength and conditioning facility, where Performance Matters. Big thanks as well to Pete Methner Photography for supporting the podcast and capturing athletes at their best.

What if success wasn't just about working harder?

This week on the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with Bob Raybould, entrepreneur, author, investor, former Army officer, and lifelong student of human performance. At nearly 90 years old, Bob shares lessons gathered from decades of business success, personal growth, working with elite athletes, and helping people unlock their potential.

The conversation dives into Bob's unique philosophy of "Success by Emotion"—a framework built around the idea that emotions don't just influence performance, they can actually accelerate it. From the story of sitting in a Porsche dealership and transforming his mindset, to working with athletes, business leaders, and high performers, Bob explains why he believes mindset should come before the hard work, not after it.

Along the way, the discussion explores:

✅ The Porsche moment that changed Bob's life forever
✅ Why emotions may be more powerful than logic
✅ The relationship between mindset, accountability, and success
✅ How athletes can perform better under pressure
✅ Why hard work alone may be overrated
✅ The role of failure, resilience, and personal responsibility
✅ Practical exercises to improve focus and goal achievement
✅ Lessons from nearly nine decades of life experience

Whether you're an athlete, coach, entrepreneur, parent, or someone simply looking to grow, this episode offers a different perspective on what drives success and how we can create momentum toward our goals.

🎙️ Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Performance Matters Podcast is proudly sponsored by:

📍 Iron Performance Center – Helping athletes and adults train with purpose and perform at their best.
Iron Performance Center

📸 Pete Methner Photography – Capturing the moments that matter most in sport.
Pete Methner Photography

What does it really take to thrive as a university athlete?

This week on the Performance Matters Podcast, Matrixx sits down with Charlotte Ross (Brock Badgers) and Gaby Buffong (Keyano College Huskies) for an honest conversation about the realities of collegiate volleyball that most people never see.

From balancing academics and athletics, navigating injuries, and dealing with comparison, to separating identity from sport and building trust within a team, this episode dives deep into the mental and emotional side of competing at a high level.

The group explores:
🏐 The biggest differences between club and university volleyball🧠 How injuries can reshape your identity as an athlete📈 Why preparation and accountability matter more than talent alone🤝 Building trust, vulnerability, and communication within a team environment🔥 The hidden costs of chasing excellence in sport🏆 Would you rather win a championship or play professionally?😂 Plus, some unforgettable (and embarrassing) volleyball moments along the way.

Whether you're an athlete, parent, coach, or simply someone striving to perform at your best, this episode offers valuable insight into the pursuit of growth, resilience, and finding purpose beyond the scoreboard.

A huge thank you to our sponsors:

💪 Iron Performance Center — Niagara's premier strength & conditioning facility, helping athletes and adults perform at their highest level. Located at 423 Lakeshore Road, St. Catharines, Ontario.

📸 Pete Methner Photography — The premier sports photographer in the Niagara region. Be sure to support local and check out Pete's incredible work.

There are two types of people in this world: subscribers and non-subscribers. You know what to do.

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