StackedCast

What actually happens when we get fatigued?

In this episode, we break down fatigue from the cellular level all the way to practical programming—covering central vs peripheral fatigue, localized vs systemic fatigue, productive vs disruptive fatigue, fatigue vs detraining, and how to recognize when fatigue is actually interfering with performance.

We also discuss why fatigue exists, why not all fatigue is bad, the relationship between fatigue and fitness, and how coaches can manage fatigue without simply trying to eliminate it.

Fatigue isn't the enemy of performance. Disruptive fatigue is.

In this episode, we're joined by one of the most respected physical therapists and coaches in powerlifting for a conversation that goes far beyond injury management.

We dive into the system behind his approach—from what the patient experience actually looks like, to how he evaluates athletes, prioritizes problems, and makes clinical decisions. Rather than focusing on isolated techniques or exercises, we explore the principles and frameworks that drive consistent outcomes.

We also discuss how coaches and clinicians can become better thinkers by developing robust systems for processing information, avoiding common reasoning traps, and making better decisions in complex situations.

Whether you're a coach, clinician, or competitive lifter, this episode is packed with insights on critical thinking, problem solving, rehabilitation, and long-term athletic development.

Topics Covered:

• His coaching and rehabilitation system
• What athletes can expect throughout the patient experience
• Assessment and decision-making frameworks
• Processing information and avoiding common thinking traps
• Building robust systems instead of relying on rigid protocols
• Coaching philosophy and practical applications for powerlifters

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone looking to become a better coach, clinician, or athlete.

In this Q&A episode, we answer listener questions on SBD variations, programming troubleshooting, leverage considerations, work capacity development, and more. We discuss how to select and implement exercise variations, identify and solve common programming issues, account for individual leverages in training, and build work capacity without compromising performance. Whether you're a lifter or coach, this episode is packed with practical insights to improve your decision-making and training outcomes.

In this episode, we sit down with Steve DeNovi @prs_performance break down one of the most misunderstood variables in strength training: frequency.

Rather than viewing frequency as simply “training more,” we explore it as a way of distributing workload, fatigue, and movement exposure across time. Steve joins us to discuss why high frequency has developed a reputation for excessive fatigue, where that perception comes from, and why frequency can’t be separated from variables like volume, exercise selection, load, and RPE.

We dive into concepts like:

• intra-session vs inter-session fatigue
• SRA curves and preparedness fluctuations
• productive work vs junk fatigue
• exposure timing and movement retention
• low frequency involution vs high frequency fatigue accumulation
• when increasing frequency actually improves performance
• and when reducing frequency may be the better decision

The episode also covers the practical realities of higher frequency training, including recovery management, mental fatigue, time demands, and exercise selection considerations.

If you’ve ever wondered whether frequency is actually helping your training—or just adding fatigue—this episode provides a much deeper framework for thinking about it.

In this episode, we challenge the idea of the “golden microcycle” in powerlifting—the belief that there’s a perfect weekly training split for everyone. We break down why this concept is so appealing, and where it falls apart in real-world training.

From individual recovery differences to lifestyle constraints and fatigue that doesn’t reset every seven days, we explore why rigid templates often miss the mark. Instead, we make the case for flexible programming, autoregulation, and focusing on principles over “perfect” structure.

In this episode, we sit down with Skyler Holt to break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in training: the difference between strength capacity and strength expression.

We dive into what each actually represents, how they’re built through programming, and why confusing the two can limit long-term progress. Skyler outlines the key qualities that underpin true strength capacity—ranging from tissue tolerance and work capacity to skill and neuromuscular efficiency—and how they show up in performance.

We also discuss the KPIs coaches should be tracking to assess these qualities, how to balance short-term performance with long-term development, and why many lifters over-prioritize expression at the expense of sustainable progress.

If you’re a coach or athlete looking to build strength that lasts—not just display it—this episode gives you a clear framework for thinking about programming, adaptation, and performance.

In this episode, we sit down with a Doctor of Physical Therapy and powerlifting coach Keenan Dung to discuss the intersection of performance and rehabilitation. We dive into the rehab process, how to think about asymmetries, when they matter (and when they don’t), and how to create cohesive programming that supports both recovery and strength development.

Rather than separating rehab and performance into two different worlds, this conversation explores how intelligent programming integrates both — allowing lifters to continue progressing while addressing limitations.

In this episode, we sit down with the winner of the Sheffield, Austin Perkins , and his coach Joe Stanek to unpack the realities behind elite-level preparation. We discuss the role of high-frequency squat, bench, and deadlift training, how productive work gets done even when conditions aren’t ideal, and the mindset required to stay consistent through chaos.

We also dive into decision-making under fatigue, adapting training when life interferes, and what separates lifters who progress from those who stall. The conversation closes with a look at future competitive plans and what’s next after a major win.

In this episode, we break down the concept of the Golden Microcycle—where it came from, why it became popular, and what problem it was originally meant to solve. We discuss how and why it can work extremely well for certain lifters, where it falls short, and the common mistakes coaches make when applying it universally.

Rather than treating programming templates as dogma, this conversation focuses on context, constraints, and individual response. We explore how training age, recovery capacity, skill demands, and workload tolerance determine whether the Golden Microcycle is a powerful tool—or the wrong solution entirely.

If you’re a coach or lifter trying to move beyond one-size-fits-all programming, this episode will help you understand who the Golden Microcycle is actually for, and when to look elsewhere.

RPE has become one of the most common tools in powerlifting — and one of the most over-relied upon.

In this episode, we explain why RPE as a primary programming tool is effectively dead, what has replaced it in modern coaching, and how experienced coaches now manage dosage, fatigue, and adaptation with less emphasis on RPE numbers.

We break down:

• Why RPE is not a stimulus

• How force output, velocity, and exposure timing matter more than labels

• How RPE fits inside a larger coaching model — not at the center of it

This episode is for coaches and lifters who want to move beyond RPE charts and start making better programming decisions.