The AVOLVE Podcast

In this episode, Matt & Angus finally sit down after a long awaited episode together and discuss the growth of AVOLVE Performance over the last year, including the key additions to the high performance staff, the challenges/lessons learnt as well as the direction they feel the business is heading. 

Matt and Angus are joined by Alec Blenis - a hybrid athlete, coach and Murph world record holder. 

Alec is a gem of the strength & conditioning industry, constantly challenging narratives and shifting perspectives when it comes to training for performance.

In this episode Alec discusses his journey into hybrid training, the benefits of heavy unilateral training, the keys to becoming 'anti-fragile' and what direction the fitness industry might be heading.

You can find Alec on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alecblenis/

Matt is joined by strength & conditioning coach and author of 'The Sporting Parent' book, Nathan Parnham. Nathan has plenty of experience in the S&C space, working previously in the professional setting for the NRL Parramatta Eels and Aussie Women 7's Rugby Program, then following on to work in a multitude of schools developing youth athlete systems (currently the Head of Performance at Brisbane Grammar).

The lads spoke about the many benefits of strength & conditioning for youth athletes, what long term athlete development should focus on, dispelled myths around weight training for youth athletes as well as delivered key advice for young S&C coaches looking to work and get started in the youth athlete space. 

You can find more from Nathan, including a access to his book, using the links below:

Book: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-sporting-parent-nathan-parnham/book/9780646834153.html

Website: https://www.nathanparnham.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanparnham/

'The Get Down' Podcast:
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-get-down-youth-athletic-development/id1729272462
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1VrSyA2N1DmuUFqXfbQ8De

Matt and Angus are joined by Clint Hill, the head of performance for West Harbour RFC and a long standing veteran of the strength & conditioning world. 

Clocking up over 20 years in the industry, Clint walks us through his coaching regime during this time, as well as his thoughts on the changes within the strength & conditioning industry, strategies for working within team environments and advice for younger coaches starting their career.

You can find Clint on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clint_hillstrength/

Matt is joined by the conditioning mastermind, Nathan Heaney. In this episode, we discuss the importance of the 'C' in S&C, the value of MAS (maximal aerobic speed) for aerobic energy system prescriptions (especially in team settings), how to prescribe higher intensity training using ASR (anaerobic speed reserve) in team sports, the value of practising what you preach as a coach as well as tips to improve athletes buy in with some of these conditioning tools. 

You can find more from Nathan with the following links:

Website - https://runningprogram.com.au/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theconditioningconsultant/?hl=en

Matt and Angus are joined by Bob Henderson, the owner of Endeavour Sports Management. Bob's aim is to wholistically take care of athletes from a wide range of sports, whether it's to handle contract negotiations, network with other professionals, provide overseas opportunities and manage external life stressors.

In this episode we touched a number of points, including the many benefits of sports management for athletes, what services Endeavour offer, the advantages of overseas/ interstate sporting opportunities and the common traits of a high performing athlete. 

You can find out more information about Endeavour Sports Management below:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endeavour_sports_management/

Website: https://endeavoursportsmanagement.com/

Matt & Angus are joined by one of the GOATs of the Strength & Conditioning industry, Nic Gill. Nic has been the Head of Performance of the All Blacks for the past 15 years, a legendary team that has some of the most success of any sporting team in the world. 

We spoke to Gilly about his approach to Strength and Conditioning including the importance of keeping things simple, his views on individualisation when it comes to programming, his recommendations around game day preparation and wellness monitoring as well as the amazing feats of strength he has seen amongst the All Blacks players. 

You can find more from Nic on the following links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicgill_health_and_performance/?hl=en

Rugby Ready: https://www.rugbyready.ca/

Matt & Angus are joined by the biggest powerhouse in the S&C game, Will Ratelle. Will is a strength and conditioning coach in North Dakota and has had experience playing in the NFL/CFL while now coaching at the University of North Dakota . 

As impressive as Wills ability when it comes to lifting weights, dunking a basketball and sprinting, his mind is even more impressive. 

We discuss a few different polarising topics in the strength and conditioning space and dispel a few myths including Wills views on French Contrast training, olympic lifting having unique benefits that loaded jumps do not exhibit and how to not over complicate training programs.

You can find Will on the following links: 

https://www.instagram.com/will.ratelle/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@willratelle8027

Matt & Angus are joined by Steven Sahyoun to chat all things combat sports strength and conditioning. Steven has a ton of experience coaching combat sports athletes and currently helps prepare UFC fighter Cory Sandhandgen in his strength and conditioning training.

This episode covered many great topics including Stevens philosophy promoting movement variation, use of RPE to prescribe training intensity with his fighters, utilising sprint training with fighters, his views on the benefits of direct neck training, as well as Stevens own takeaways learned rehabbing his previously ruptured achilles.

You can find Steven here

https://www.instagram.com/coach_steven_sahyoun?igsh=MXJ2eDJpNDFtbGZ5MQ==

And his neck training guide here:

https://www.psccoaching.com.au/necktraining/

Matt & Angus discuss all things load management including their strategies they have utilised to proactively and reactively manage training load with their athletes. 

They dive deep into biopsychosocial principles, deload strategies, wellness monitoring tools and even personality types that can have an impact on the outcome of a load management strategy utilised.