The Aqua Strength Podcast

Jack and Cal explore what makes masters swimming the best adult sport on earth, then discuss how better storytelling, rivalries, and athlete personalities could make competitive swimming more exciting to watch.

Swimmer, coach, or parent? This one's for you.

Follow, leave a review, and send this to someone who'd love it.

Love big,

CB & JB

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

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Want custom practices designed to build speed in the pool? Apply here:

⁠https://tr.ee/b9Q_yRgw3W⁠

We're back, and we're kicking off season FOUR of The Aqua Strength Podcast...

This week we talk multi-sport athletes, why recruiting by times alone can miss the full picture, and why more isn't always better when you're building better athletes. We also get into progressive overload, keeping athletes healthy and excited to train, and how sharing your coaching online helps you connect with people.

Swimmer, water polo player, coach, or parent? This one's for you.

Follow, leave a review, and send this to someone who'd love it.

Love big,

CB & JB

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/aqua-strength-performance?attrib=538828-web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want custom speed practices designed to build speed in the pool? Apply here:

https://tr.ee/b9Q_yRgw3W

In episode 71 of the pod, discover how the right environment can accelerate your athletic growth, why perceived pressure is often self-imposed, and how aligning actions with foundational principles like nutrition and mental composure leads to long-term success. Learn the importance of finding the right fit in coaching and training environments to reignite passion and effectiveness. This episode offers actionable insights to help athletes optimize their performance and mental health.

If you ENJOY this episode, all we ask is that you hit "follow" and share the show. Thank you.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/aqua-strength-performance?attrib=538828-web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Cal & Jack reveal their full weekly training blueprint for sprint swimmers looking to become ELITE sprinters. If you're a coach, athlete, or parent frustrated with the outdated “more is better” approach, this episode is your wake-up call to rethink recovery, technique, and race-specific practice. You'll discover how to structure a week of training that balances high-intensity speed work with strategic rest. From a five-day workout philosophy to the importance of emotional environment, Cal and Jack share detailed plans for each day highlighting how targeted sessions can significantly improve top-end speed, "speed endurance", and race readiness without overtraining or sacrificing joy.

We break down the core principles of Charlie Francis's high-low model, exploring how to harness the nervous system for maximum gains, without the middle ground that leads to stagnation. Dive into tactical tips on implementing speed-focused drills like resisted efforts, race-pace sets, overspeed training, and hypoxic breathing, all designed to enhance neural output and technical consistency under fatigue.

Why does this approach matter? Because neglecting recovery and mental clarity can leave athletes stuck in a cycle of unproductive training and declining performance. The episode reveals how to create a supportive environment, leverage outside experts, and make training enjoyable. Ultimately making athletes crave practice while achieving measurable progress. This episode arms you with a proven, science-based framework to optimize performance, prevent burnout, and keep athletes excited about the water.

If you ENJOY this episode, all we ask is that you hit "follow" and share the show. Thank you.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/aqua-strength-performance?attrib=538828-web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Most athletes think peak performance comes from pushing harder or doing more drills, but the true game-changers are the mindsets and habits they develop outside the pool. In this episode of the Aqua Strength podcast, Cal and Jack reveal five ELITE athletes from other sports who hold invaluable lessons for swimmers and water polo players alike.

If you ENJOY this episode, all we ask is that you hit "follow" and share the show. Thank you.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/aqua-strength-performance?attrib=538828-web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Most swimmers and coaches focus heavily on training volume and technique, but what if the key to unlocking faster performance lies in the mental game and environment? In this eye-opening episode, Jack and Cal reveal how the mental side of sport (confidence, race exposure, and coaching mindset) can make or break race-day results, even more than physical preparation.

Discover how real confidence is built through consistent race-like experiences and how exposing athletes to pressure situations regularly transforms their performance.

If you ENJOY this episode, all we ask is that you hit "follow" and share the show. Thank you.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

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Adam Peaty, the fastest breaststroker in history, discusses his career, training, mindset and dominance. We cover prioritizing speed over endurance, discover how his revolutionary approach to training (focusing on explosive power, precise stroke rate, and mental resilience) can transform performance and reignite passion for the sport.

Whether you're a coach, athlete, or enthusiast, this episode is full of incredible value and insight from an absolute legend in the sport. Thank you Adam.

If you ENJOY this episode, all we ask is that you leave us a review and share the show. Thank you.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/aqua-strength-performance?attrib=538828-web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In episode 66 with Kaitlyn Johnson, we explore her incredible swimming story. From her early days at the YMCA, 28x All-American at Clarion University, to qualifying for the Olympic Trials after training in the pool ONE day per week. Caitlin's journey defies the traditional training narrative.

Discover how strategic rest, smart nutrition, and focused training led her to peak performance, after years of being out of the pool. Kaitlyn shares her unique approach to training, emphasizing quality over quantity and how strength training played an integral role in her success as a sprinter.

If you ENJOY this episode, all we ask is that you leave us a review and share the show. Thank you.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/aqua-strength-performance?attrib=538828-web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In episode 65 of The Aqua Strength Podcast, JB and Cal chat with famous Track Coach, Tony Holler. Tony is known for his training system "Feed the Cats," that he's been using and teaching across the world for DECADES.

Tony works with coaches to implement these sprint based training techniques and coaching philosophies across TONS of sports (track, football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, hockey, basketball, etc.) The list goes on. And today, Tony took time to outline his systems and share how his approach could be implemented into the sport of swimming.

Tony has over 40+ years of Coaching and teaching experience and a list of accomplishments that would be too long to write out. He is a master of his craft, and cares MOST about helping athletes fall in love with their sport. It was an absolute honor and privilege to speak with Coach Tony Holler. Enjoy.

If you ENJOY this episode, all we ask is that you leave us a review and share the show. Thank you.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/aqua-strength-performance?attrib=538828-web⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the pod, JB and Cal chat with Elvis Burrows. Elvis is a former Olympic swimmer turned coach, consultant, & commentator. We discuss why most swimmers are training their brains and bodies for the middle of the race, not the finish line, why traditional yardage-focused practices are holding athletes back, and how embracing high-intensity, technical training can unlock unprecedented speed.

In this episode, you’ll discover why less can be more in the sport of swimming. Elvis breaks down the misunderstood difference between yardage and volume, exposing the flawed belief that more laps equal faster times. You'll learn how elite swimmers develop the killer instinct and technical mastery that turn races into wins.

This episode is essential listening for coaches tired of the status quo, athletes hungry to improve, and anyone fed up with slow progress from endless yardage.

Link to Aqua Strength Athletes + JACKED & ATHLETIC programs:

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The Aqua Strength Agreement:

If you enjoy this episode, or it provides any sort of value, we ask that you please share the show and leave us a review. The only way the ASP community grows, is if you share the show. Thank YOU so much.