Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Chris' presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.com/

This week I’m joined by Dr. Chris Taber, one of the most frequent guests on the Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast, to talk about something that separates “I think this is working” from “I know it’s working”: How to build an athlete testing & monitoring battery.

We dig into the full process Chris is literally writing the book on: starting with a needs analysis, using the scientific method to identify what matters, selecting KPIs, and building a monitoring system that fits your context — even if you’re operating in a grassroots setting with limited time, staff, and equipment.

We also get very practical on what weightlifters and strength coaches can actually implement right now: session RPE, wellness metrics, jump testing (static + CMJ), basic bar speed tracking, and how to standardize procedures so the data means something.

If you’re coaching performance outside the simple “hit a top set and hope it moved,” this episode is your blueprint.

Enjoy.

Follow Chris:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drchristaber/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Taber⁠

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.com/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I sat down with Derek Miles to talk about the gray area where rehab and performance overlap.

Derek works daily with strength athletes navigating pain, injury, and the messy process of getting back to overloading training. We discuss how to think about injury beyond simple labels, why most issues are really scaling problems, and how coaches can keep athletes training without being reckless or overly conservative.

We talk about what “injury” actually means, how confidence and tolerance shape programming, and why collaboration between coaches and clinicians matters more than rigid protocols. Derek also shares practical frameworks for modifying load, range of motion, and exercise selection — without losing sight of performance.

If you’re a coach, clinician, or athlete trying to navigate the rehab process while still making progress, this episode will give you a clearer way to think about it.

Enjoy.

Work with Derek: https://www.instagram.com/derek_barbellmedicine/?hl=en

https://www.milesrehabandperformance.com/

Follow me and get coaching!

https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/

https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.com/

Weightlifting House:

code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx:

with code PHILWL for 10% off

https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/onyx_straps/

This week, I sat down once again with Seb Ostrowicz — founder of Weightlifting House, commentator, and professional voice-note philosopher — for a conversation that’s a little different from our usual banter on weightlifting Xs and Os.

We use the upcoming Power and Strength Summit (January 24–25) as a backdrop to dig into mentorship:
Who counts as a mentor? How do they shape our careers and lives? And why does it feel like real mentorship is increasingly rare?

From there, we branch into:

• The difference between influences and true mentors

• How a single email reply from Glenn Pendlay changed the trajectory of Weightlifting House

• Why some people seem “lucky” and what you’re still 100% responsible for

• Building a business (or a career) without a clear blueprint

• The role coaches play in shaping young lifters as people, not just athletes

• Why “inaction is an action” and the price you pay for staying the same

It’s part philosophy, part behind-the-scenes of our own paths in coaching, business, and life, and an honest look at how we’re all trying to become the kind of person who could actually mentor someone else.

Enjoy.

Follow Seb and WH:

https://www.instagram.com/seb_ostrowicz/

https://www.instagram.com/weightlifting_house/

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I sat down with Stephanie Mock Grubbs — former Division I athlete, collegiate S&C coach and athletic director, and now Major League strength coach with the Houston Astros — to talk about what high performance really looks like over a 162-game season.

We discuss how she uses microdosing strength training in-season, what it means to lift when every day is game day, and how she finds “maximal effective doses” inside a chaotic schedule of travel, night games, and quick turnarounds.

We close with practical advice for young coaches who want to work in pro sport: how to diversify your skill set, why collaborating with academics and sport scientists matters, and why mentorship and humility still sit at the center of good coaching.

Enjoy.

Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Steph's presentation on creating a framework for microdosing strength training:

https://powerandstrengthsummit.com/

Follow Steph:

https://www.instagram.com/coachstephgrubbs/?hl=en

https://x.com/CoachStephMock

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I sat down with Dr. Lee Bell — researcher, practitioner, and senior lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science — to explore one of the most misunderstood areas in strength training: how hard we should train.

Lee has spent years studying overreaching, deloading, and the messy realities of bridging science with practice. We dive into his recent squat-overreaching study, the challenges of defining terms like “overtraining,” and why the human side of training — trust, communication, and honest feedback — matters.

We talk about why some athletes feel terrible yet hit PRs, how allostatic load shapes performance, and what coaches can learn from observing training rather than chasing perfect models.

Enjoy.

Follow Lee's work:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lee-Bell

https://www.instagram.com/lee3ell/?hl=en

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I sat down with Leo Totten — coach, educator, and founder of Totten Training Systems and East Coast Gold Weightlifting.

Leo has spent over five decades shaping American weightlifting as an athlete, coach, and mentor. We discuss the evolution of training — from learning the Olympic lifts out of old Strength & Health magazines to building one of the most successful club systems in the country.

We talk about the roots of programming, the balance between research and experience. Leo also reflects on the importance of mentorship, legacy, and doing things “the right way, for the right reasons, with the right people.”

Enjoy.

Sign up for Leo's mentorship group:

https://www.tottentraining.com/coaching-mentor-program

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I’m joined by Seb Ostrowicz of Weightlifting House to break down the IWF’s new bodyweight categories and what they mean heading into LA 2028.

We get into:

• - Why the new classes were created and how the IOC forced the reshuffle

• - The 65/75/85/95/110/+110 and 53/61/69/77/86/+86 structure and where it makes zero sense

• - Who wins, who gets screwed, and why some lifters now have to make insane jumps

• - How stricter testing, body size, and talent pools are reshaping top-end performances

• - A quick life + projects catch-up, including my PhD work and what’s next for Weightlifting House

  
  

If you care about elite weightlifting, qualification strategy, or how these changes will shape the next generation of freaks on the platform, this one’s for you.

Enjoy.

Follow Seb and WH:

https://www.instagram.com/seb_ostrowicz/

https://www.instagram.com/weightlifting_house/

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I sat down with Dr. Chris Taber — researcher, sport scientist, and professor at Sacred Heart University — to unpack the art and science of program design.

We dive into how hypertrophy, novelty, and creativity fit into long-term athlete development, and why variation may be the key to sustaining progress. Dr. Taber also shares findings from his latest research comparing traditional and motor-assisted flywheel training for hypertrophy.

Enjoy.

Follow Chris:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/drchristaber/⁠

⁠https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Taber

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.com/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I’m joined by Dani Myers Glynn — better known as @DaniLiftsHeavy — alongside today's co-host Mandi from the Two Girls, One Bar podcast. We discuss Dani’s prep for the upcoming IDFPA World Championships in South Korea and what it really takes to get butt-ass strong.

We break down the training model that’s carried her from Nationals to Worlds, including how we’ve shifted from traditional high-rep progressions to lower-rep, high-intensity blocks, managed volume across lifts, and adapted training after dropping weight classes. We also dig into athlete psychology, the coach–athlete relationship, and the fine line between “high-performance mindset” and training for health.

Outside of training, we talk about fundraising for Worlds, building community through authenticity, and how Dani’s Lift Heavy brand has become a movement for inclusivity and strength at every size.

Enjoy.

Help us get to South Korea:

Donate directly - https://bio.site/daniliftsheavy

Buy merch - https://www.bonfire.com/daniliftsheavy/ and https://www.bonfire.com/hot-people-lift-heavy/

Follow Dani:

https://www.instagram.com/daniliftsheavy/

Follow Mandi and the 2 Girls, 1 Bar podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/mandimurakami/

https://www.instagram.com/2girls1barpod/

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.com/

This week, Jessie Stemo joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on building a career in weightlifting. We dig into her journey from “hobby land” coaching to doing it full-time, and what it really takes to make coaching sustainable in a sport without much money.

Jessie shares how she balanced one-on-one coaching with scalable team programming, the importance of brand and team identity at Power & Grace Performance, and why coaching is as much about relationships as it is about writing programs. We also dive into the role of communication, trust, and supporting the “whole athlete” — not just the bar path.

We finish with a deep dive into pulls: how to program them for both stronger and weaker lifters, their role in technical development and maximal strength, and how to peak them effectively for competition.

Enjoy.

Follow me and get coaching:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/

https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.com/

Follow Jessie:

https://www.instagram.com/jessiestemo/

https://powerandgraceperformance.com/

Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠