In this episode, Samson sits down with Liane Blyn, Director of Sports Performance for Olympic Sports at Arizona State University. Liane shares how strength and conditioning has evolved through the years and what it takes to build a culture of accountability. From breaking barriers as a female coach in a male-dominated field to mentoring the next generation of coaches, Liane’s story embodies grit, growth, and purpose in the ever-changing landscape of athletics.

Key Takeaways

• Building professional connections is vital for growth in coaching.
  

• Communication styles and expectations have evolved across generations.
  

• Structure and consistency benefit both coaches and athletes.
  

• Transitioning from athletic training to strength coaching can redefine a career.
  

• Female coaches continue to face unique barriers in male-dominated fields.
  

• The transfer portal has transformed athlete development and retention.
  

• Adversity builds resilience and fosters accountability.
  

• Competing in strength sports can deepen a coach’s credibility and empathy.
  

Quote:

“75% of kids drop out of organized sports by the time they get to high school. You can’t just point the finger and blame the coach—look in the mirror sometimes.” — Liane Blyn

In this conversation, Samson speaks with Ant Blubello, a physical therapist and strength coach, about his evolution from a self-critical athlete to a coach guided by faith and emotional intelligence. Ant dives into his early struggles with body image, the power of positive self-talk, and how spiritual growth has influenced his approach to both rehabilitation and performance. He offers honest reflections on working with high-level athletes, collaborating with military personnel, and balancing the demands of therapy and strength coaching.

Key Takeaways

• Ant’s journey from overweight kid to respected coach is deeply inspiring.
  

• Relationships are the foundation of effective coaching.
  

• Positive self-talk fosters both athletic and personal growth.
  

• Faith and purpose guide Ant’s approach to performance and rehab.
  

• Coaching requires empathy, patience, and understanding of human behavior.
  

• The art of rehabilitation is as much emotional as it is physical.
  

• Balancing physical therapy with coaching provides a holistic athlete view.

  
  Quote:

“The problem with that was that it worked. Me beating myself up did lead to new PRs and better grades—but that negative self-talk bled into relationships and friendships.” — Ant Blubello

Conner Freeland, Vice President of Municipal Sales at O2X Human Performance, joins the Samson Strength Coach Collective to discuss how relationships have defined every stage of his career—from the weight room to business leadership. A career-altering back injury redirected his focus to coaching, sparking a passion for helping others move, perform, and recover. Conner reflects on developing athlete buy-in, teaching recovery in tactical populations, and how mentorship and servant leadership continue to guide his approach to building people and programs.

Key Takeaways:

• A major injury led Conner to discover his passion for coaching.
  

• Recovery and simplicity often create the greatest progress.
  

• Buy-in starts with authenticity, humility, and consistency.
  

• Servant leadership connects coaching and business development.
  

• Mentorship and curiosity fuel long-term professional growth.
  

• Tactical coaching requires empathy, recovery education, and adaptability.
  

• Great leaders build people through relationships, not authority.
  

• Leaving every role or program better than you found it defines success.

  Quote:

“OK, now what do I do? I need to rehab. I need to like… get back to be able to just squat and move again, like what do I do? And it was kind of going through that rehab process with the ATs, the PTs, the docs, strength coaches—getting that one-on-one attention. It was really cool to see that you can make substantial progress even from an injury, to get back to moving well. That became an avenue for me to stay in sports and provide value to others the same way others had poured into me.”

— Conner Freeland

In this episode, tactical strength and conditioning coach Mark Christiani talks about his transition from military service to coaching and the lessons learned along the way. He discusses how structure and adaptability from military life translate to strength coaching, why the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness initiative demands better preparation for coaches, and how the field can grow through mentorship and structured internships.

Key Takeaways

• Tactical S&C needs structured internship pipelines.

• Military discipline and adaptability improve coaching.

• The Army has hundreds of unfilled coaching roles.

• Nutrition and education drive soldier readiness.

• Mentorship is key for young coaches entering tactical S&C.

• Collaboration between collegiate and military coaches boosts effectiveness.

Quote

“But in the tactical setting, I think we need to develop some sort of internship pipeline. Specifically talking about the military right now, the Army has hundreds and hundreds of jobs that will be coming available in the next five years… but there’s no experiential internship for young coaches to get geared in that direction.” — Mark Christiani

S02|E226

Real Education in Strength Coaching with Dr. Justin Lima | Samson Strength Coach Collective

On this edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, host Connor Agnew speaks with Dr. Justin Lima, high-performance consultant and owner of Strength Coach Network. Justin shares his career across the B1G, ACC, Ivy League, and CAA, and how Strength Coach Network transformed his coaching knowledge and personal growth.

We cover why the most valuable education often happens outside the classroom, how to balance time management with coaching demands, and the role of honesty, spirituality, and ethics in the profession. Justin also explains how Strength Coach Network supports coaches with CEUs, webinars, and career resources.

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Topics Covered:

• Real education vs. classroom education in coaching

• How Strength Coach Network supports coaches

• Why coaches must train themselves

• Time management and productivity in coaching

• Honesty and candor in the profession

• Spirituality and personal growth as foundations for coaching

• Ethical challenges in product promotion

• Building meaningful relationships in strength coaching

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Keywords: strength coaching, education, experience, time management, ethics, Strength Coach Network, personal growth, relationships, athletic performance

 In this special episode, Connor Agnew speaks with Mike Campagna, Financial Advisor and Senior Qualified Plans Specialist, about developing financial wellness. The conversation covers essential money habits, from budgeting and tracking expenses to tackling high-interest debt and starting retirement savings early. Mike emphasizes removing shame from financial discussions, being kind to yourself during setbacks, and making small, consistent improvements over time. Drawing parallels between financial discipline and athletic training, he offers actionable strategies to help strength coaches and young professionals take control of their financial futures.

Key Takeaways

• Start building financial habits early, just like fitness.
  

• Automate savings to make it easier to save money.
  

• Track your spending to identify areas for improvement.
  

• Focus on paying off high-interest debt first.
  

• Don’t let lifestyle inflation consume income increases.
  

• Retirement savings should start as early as possible.
  

• Be kind to yourself when facing financial setbacks.
  

• Use budgeting tools to categorize and visualize expenses.
  

• Consider refinancing student loans for better rates.
  

• Work with a fiduciary financial advisor for personalized guidance.
  

Quote "When approaching all of this stuff, be kind to yourself... A slip up doesn’t mean you quit. The same thing with your financial health—get back on the wagon and keep going." — Mike Campagna

 On this edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Abbey Phillipson, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Adaptive Sport and Head ParaPowerlifting Coach at the University of Michigan. Abbey shares her journey as an athlete with a disability and her path to becoming a leader in adaptive sports. She discusses why strength training principles apply universally, the misconceptions about adaptive sports, and the competitive drive of adaptive athletes. Abbey also talks about founding Michigan’s ParaPowerlifting team and the importance of testing, data collection, and long-term investment in adaptive sports.

Key Takeaways

• Strength and conditioning principles do not change for adaptive sports.
  

• Abbey founded the first collegiate para powerlifting team at the University of Michigan.
  

• Misconceptions about adaptive sports often stem from lack of understanding.
  

• Strength training is essential for improving quality of life for athletes with disabilities.
  

• Adaptive sports are highly competitive and empower athletes just like able-bodied sports.
  

• Institutional investment in adaptive sports remains limited and needs improvement.
  

• Testing and data collection are crucial—“If you’re not testing, you’re guessing.”
  

Quote “Then we're creating the narrative that kids with disabilities, people who acquire disabilities, the normal is that you play sports. The normal is that you go to the gym. The normal is that you are living life like any other person.” – Abbey Phillipson

 On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we speak with Alex Redshaw, O2X Human Performance Program Manager for Arlington County Fire Department. Alex discusses his career journey, the importance of strength and conditioning in firefighting, and the unique health challenges firefighters face. From injury prevention and cardiovascular risks to sleep education and nutrition, Alex highlights strategies to improve firefighter wellness and extend career longevity.

Key Takeaways

• Strength & conditioning is essential to prepare firefighters for high-stress demands.
  

• Firefighters face elevated risks of cardiovascular disease and obesity.
  

• Education on sleep and nutrition is critical for long-term health.
  

• Wellness programs can help firefighters prioritize themselves in a culture that often demands self-sacrifice.
  

• A supportive environment drives successful lifestyle changes.
  

• The ultimate goal is to help firefighters retire strong and healthy.
  

Quote “But then, so outside of the musculoskeletal side of things, we have cardiovascular events. So the acute impact of firefighting… your blood gets thicker, which turns harder to pump around the body. So any underlying or pre-existing heart issues that you may have are exacerbated or brought to the front during those events.” – Alex Redshaw

 In this special episode, Connor Agnew speaks with Mike Campagna, Financial Advisor and Senior Qualified Plans Specialist, about developing financial wellness. The conversation covers essential money habits, from budgeting and tracking expenses to tackling high-interest debt and starting retirement savings early. Mike emphasizes removing shame from financial discussions, being kind to yourself during setbacks, and making small, consistent improvements over time. Drawing parallels between financial discipline and athletic training, he offers actionable strategies to help strength coaches and young professionals take control of their financial futures.

Key Takeaways

• Start building financial habits early, just like fitness.

• Automate savings to make it easier to save money.

• Track your spending to identify areas for improvement.

• Focus on paying off high-interest debt first.

• Don’t let lifestyle inflation consume income increases.

• Retirement savings should start as early as possible.

• Be kind to yourself when facing financial setbacks.

• Use budgeting tools to categorize and visualize expenses.

• Consider refinancing student loans for better rates.

• Work with a fiduciary financial advisor for personalized guidance.

Quote "When approaching all of this stuff, be kind to yourself... A slip up doesn’t mean you quit. The same thing with your financial health—get back on the wagon and keep going." — Mike Campagna

In this conversation, Connor Agnew and Dave Nedbalek explore the evolving world of coaching. They discuss the transition from college to high school basketball, the role of family and community, and strategies for motivating today’s youth athletes. Dave highlights the importance of building relationships, fostering resilience, avoiding early specialization, and embracing creativity in coaching. The episode also delves into the value of collaboration between sport coaches and strength coaches, and the necessity of clear communication in athlete development.

Key Takeaways:

• Coaching is about relationships and understanding athletes’ needs.
  

• Moving from college to high school requires different motivation strategies.
  

• Family support is key during coaching transitions.
  

• A strong “why” can drive athlete engagement and commitment.
  

• Building resilience and grit prepares athletes for life beyond sports.
  

• Avoid early specialization for well-rounded development.
  

• Creativity and controlled chaos in practice enhance performance.
  

• Sport and strength coaches must collaborate closely.
  

• Clear communication is essential for effective teaching.
  

Quote"If I know I want to get my name called to play in that three letter league, my path, I can reverse engineer it... but how do you get kids motivated when their goals are different? That’s where the real coaching happens." – Dave Nedbalek