The Gap

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Dylan Shannon on Social Media, Strength Coaching & Building Influence in FitnessIn this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Dylan Shannon, one of the fastest-growing social media strength coaches and fitness influencers, to break down what it really takes to build authority, audience, and impact in today’s fitness industry.Dylan has built a massive online presence by combining real training principles, relatable content, and strategic social media execution. In this conversation, we go beyond the highlight reels and viral clips to talk about the systems, mindset, and mistakes behind growing a sustainable brand as a coach in the modern era.Whether you’re a strength coach, athlete, personal trainer, or content creator, this episode gives you actionable insight into how fitness, business, and social media intersect — and how to leverage all three without selling out your values.What We Cover in This EpisodeHow Dylan Shannon built his following as a strength coach on social mediaThe biggest mistakes coaches make when posting fitness content onlineWhy authenticity beats perfection in content creationHow to stand out in an oversaturated fitness industryThe difference between being a good coach vs. a good influencerTraining philosophy vs. internet trendsHow social media has changed the career path for coachesMonetization, brand deals, and building long-term influenceAdvice for young coaches trying to grow online without burning outWhy This Episode MattersSocial media has completely reshaped the fitness industry. Coaches no longer need a big gym, a pro roster, or traditional credentials to make an impact — but they do need clarity, consistency, and a real message.Dylan Shannon represents a new generation of coaches who understand that education, entertainment, and execution all matter. This episode dives into how to balance performance training with content creation while staying credible in a world driven by algorithms.If you’ve ever wondered:How fitness influencers actually growWhether social media helps or hurts coachingHow to turn content into real opportunityThis conversation is for you.Who Should ListenStrength & conditioning coachesPersonal trainersAthletes at any levelFitness content creatorsGym owners & online coachesAnyone trying to grow on social media in fitness

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In this episode of The Gap Podcast (#129), I sit down with Chris Martin to talk about what actually matters if you want to play Division 1 baseball and beyond.Chris is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for LSU Baseball and previously spent multiple years in the Houston Astros organization, where he worked across player development and rehabilitation in one of the most advanced systems in professional baseball. His background spans both the college and pro game, giving him a rare lens on how athletes are built, broken, and developed at the highest levels.What separates Chris isn’t just his resume, but how he thinks about athletes. He lives in the space between performance, health, and long-term development. Not chasing trends. Not chasing tests. But building players who can survive and thrive in high-level baseball.In this conversation, we dive into:• What actually separates D1 players from everyone else• The real differences between high school, college, and pro baseball• Why the 60-yard dash is often overrated as a talent marker• How nicotine and THC quietly destroy recovery, focus, and nervous system output• What LSU and pro organizations actually look for in developing players• Why habits, not just talent, determine who lastsWe talk about how college baseball is a completely different environment than high school. Faster games. Higher volumes. More stress. More pressure. And why so many talented players struggle not because they aren’t skilled, but because their bodies, habits, and nervous systems aren’t prepared for the demands.Chris also explains why straight-line speed tests like the 60-yard dash don’t tell the full story. Speed matters, but baseball is about how you move, react, rotate, decelerate, and express power in chaotic positions. If all you train is a sprint test, you miss what actually shows up on the field.We also get into the uncomfortable stuff most people avoid. How nicotine and THC impact sleep, recovery, motivation, and the nervous system. These habits seem small, but at the D1 and pro level they quietly cap your ceiling and shorten careers.If you’re a high-school player chasing a D1 roster spot, a college athlete trying to survive and stand out, or a coach or parent trying to understand what really moves the needle, this episode will give you clarity most people never get.

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In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with TJ Cahill to talk about coaching principles everyone should know — not just what to coach, but how to think as a coach.TJ is a highly respected strength and conditioning coach with years of experience working with athletes across multiple levels and environments. What separates TJ isn’t a flashy system or viral exercises, but his ability to think deeply, communicate clearly, and apply principles instead of blindly following trends.He’s coached in real-world settings where constraints matter — limited time, limited buy-in, different personalities, different sports — and that experience shows in how he approaches training. TJ has a strong emphasis on long-term athlete development, adaptability, and understanding the human side of coaching, not just the physiological one.In this conversation, we dive into:• How TJ developed his coaching philosophy• Why principles matter more than methods or systems• The importance of critical thinking in an industry full of noise• Coaching the athlete in front of you, not the program on paper• What young coaches should focus on early in their careers• How to build trust, buy-in, and real progress over timeThis episode is especially valuable for coaches who feel overwhelmed by conflicting information online or pressured to chase whatever is currently trending. TJ brings a grounded, thoughtful perspective that cuts through the noise and brings coaching back to what actually matters.Whether you coach youth athletes, high school programs, college athletes, or adults who still identify as athletes, this conversation will help sharpen how you think about training, communication, and leadership.If you found this episode valuable, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with another coach who needs to hear it.

Welcome back to The Gap Podcast with Hitman Performance (Brett Hart) and Jacked Javelin (Dan). In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Paul, one of the most forward-thinking coaches in modern sports performance, to break down what it really means to become a “new athlete” in today’s era.

Athletes aren’t just lifting weights anymore— they’re training their nervous system, their tendons, their mindset, and their ability to absorb, redirect, and produce force at elite speeds. Ryan explains how training has evolved, what separates average from elite performers, and how young athletes can start building the foundation now.

If you're a coach, parent, or athlete who wants to understand the future of performance training, this episode is a must-watch.

• What defines the “new athlete” in 2025 and beyond

• Why neurology and nervous system training matter

• Developing elastic strength, stiffness, and force absorption

• How to structure training for long-term athletic development

• Lessons from coaching high-level performers

• Mindset shifts every athlete needs to make

• Practical takeaways for youth, high school, and college athletes

The Gap dives deep into sports performance, neurology, elite training methods, and athlete development, featuring top coaches, researchers, and athletes from around the world. Hosted by Hitman Performance & Jacked Javelin.

Ryan PaulInstagram: @newathlete

Hitman Performance (Brett)Instagram: @bretthart__

Jacked Javelin (Dan)Instagram: @jackedjavelin

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Michael Jordan and Alex Hormozi may come from different worlds — one from the basketball court, the other from business — but both share the same hidden fuel: dopamine. In this episode, we break down why both men can be seen as dopamine addicts, and how their obsession with improvement, competition, and validation reveals the neuroscience of greatness.

We explore how dopamine drives ambition, why high achievers get hooked on progress itself, and what separates productive obsession from self-destructive addiction.

• How dopamine controls motivation, focus, and the pursuit of goals

• Why Michael Jordan’s competitive drive mirrors Alex Hormozi’s business obsession

• The difference between discipline and dopamine addiction

• How Hormozi’s “building is the reward” mentality reflects the same psychology as Jordan’s “I took that personally” mindset

• What neuroscience says about the chase, the win, and the crash

• How to use dopamine for sustainable success without burnout

• Both Jordan and Hormozi thrive on the chase, not the finish line.

• Dopamine doesn’t make you happy — it makes you crave more.

• Jordan’s rivalries and Hormozi’s business sprints activate the same reward circuits in the brain.

• They’ve turned addiction into productivity, mastering their chemistry rather than being ruled by it.

• The dark side? Constant pursuit can lead to emptiness, burnout, and identity loss when the rewards fade.

Dopamine is the molecule of wanting, not having.
For Michael Jordan, every missed shot, insult, or slight triggered a biochemical mission — to prove something.
For Alex Hormozi, it’s building, optimizing, scaling, and repeating — not for money, but for the hit of progress itself.

Both men represent the ultimate dopamine loop:

• Trigger → Action → Reward → Craving → Repeat.

They’re addicted not to outcomes, but to momentum.

When dopamine spikes, so does focus, creativity, and energy.
But when it crashes, the void hits hard — which is why the world’s most driven people often can’t stop.
They need a new goal, a new game, a new challenge.
That’s what makes them great — and what makes them restless.

This episode breaks down the balance between drive and contentment — how to channel dopamine like Jordan and Hormozi without burning out or losing fulfillment in the process.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:🔥 Key Takeaways:🧩 The Dopamine Loop:🧠 The Science of Drive:

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In this episode of The Gap, Brett (Hitman Performance) and Dan (Jacked Javelin) sit down with elite decathlete Jason Rotger to break down what it truly means to train for ten different events—and how those principles translate directly into youth sports development.

We unpack the movement qualities every young athlete needs, why decathlete-style training creates unmatched speed and power, and how developing versatility early builds long-term athletic potential. Jason shares his approach to sprint mechanics, strength work, plyometrics, and the mindset required to handle a multi-event workload.

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete looking to improve speed, coordination, and total-body performance… you’ll learn exactly how to train smarter, move better, and build the foundation for elite sport.

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In this episode of The Gap #122, we sit down with Luke Dawson, better known as Throw Ched, to break down why today’s pitchers MUST become more athletic if they want to survive in the modern game. Velocity is skyrocketing, workloads are heavier, and injuries are at an all-time high — which means the old model of “just throw more bullpens” is officially dead.

Luke explains why rotational athletes need to train like sprinters, jumpers, and throwers, not bodybuilders or distance runners. We cover the movement qualities that actually translate to velocity: dynamic hip rotation, elastic power, javelin-inspired sequencing, and the ability to create force fast. If you’re a pitcher trying to increase velocity, reduce arm stress, and build a body that can handle a full season, this conversation gives you the blueprint.

We also discuss why siloed “pitching-only” development is holding athletes back, how poor athleticism limits mechanics, and what baseball can learn from javelin, track and field, and power-speed sports. Luke breaks down how he trains his athletes, the drills he prioritizes, and the gaps in the baseball development world that need to be fixed immediately.

✅ Topics Covered:

• Why pitchers must become better overall athletes

• Rotational power & elastic strength explained

• What baseball can learn from javelin throwers

• Speed, plyos, and sprint-based training

• How athleticism increases velocity & reduces injury

• Strength training that actually translates to the mound

• Throw Ched’s philosophy on building durable, explosive pitchers

• The future of baseball development in the high-velo era

Work with Jake Online: https://www.skool.com/lightning-lab-baseball-4703/about?ref=f6370453776e48ed8a2263b0db95f49e

Unlock the secrets behind long-term baseball development with Jake Oliger, one of the most forward-thinking throwing minds in the game. In this video, we break down the REAL roadmap for building elite velocity, durability, and longevity—while also exploring why Shohei Ohtani is a once-in-a-generation anomaly in today’s high-velocity era.

Whether you’re a pitcher, position player, or a coach trying to build athletes the right way, this episode dives deep into how training age, movement quality, rotational power, and arm-care consistency shape a player’s career trajectory. Jake explains why the best athletes don’t just stack velocity—they build a foundation of mechanics, adaptability, and athleticism that lasts.

We also analyze Ohtani’s unprecedented blend of biomechanics, athletic efficiency, and workload tolerance, and what actually separates him from typical MLB development paths. With Tommy John surgery becoming more common as velocities rise, we break down how to train smarter, develop rotational athletes sustainably, and protect the arm across an entire career.

If you’re serious about long-term baseball success—and you want a blueprint that works—this is a must-watch.

✅ Topics Covered:

• Long-term pitcher development

• Youth vs. elite training priorities

• Why Ohtani breaks every rule

• Velocity vs. durability

• Arm-care principles that actually matter

• How to build power without destroying the elbow

• Lessons from javelin, baseball, and rotational sports

Check out Paulies page:

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

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In today’s episode, we sit down with Paulie Throws — one of the most influential young voices in the throwing community — to talk about how social media is saving the sport. From javelin and discus to shot put and hammer, the throwing world is evolving fast, and the digital era might be its only lifeline.

We break down how creators like Paulie are using content, storytelling, and authenticity to bring new energy to throwing events, inspire the next generation, and prove that track & field can thrive in the modern age — if it learns to leverage attention.

• Why social media is the new stadium for throwers

• How Paulie Throws built his platform and community

• The power of short-form storytelling in niche sports

• Why track & field is falling behind without digital creators

• How to grow throwing culture through content and connection

• The mindset behind sharing the process instead of just results

• What throwing needs to survive in the algorithm era

• Throwing isn’t dying — it’s just offline.

• Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are giving throwers a global audience for the first time.

• Social media doesn’t just promote athletes — it preserves the culture of throwing.

• Paulie Throws shows how creators can make the sport relatable, raw, and entertaining.

• The future of throwing belongs to those who can throw far and tell the story.

In the past, throwing was confined to meets, colleges, and training camps — moments that disappeared once the season ended.

Watch On Youtube: https://youtu.be/xrqrJPMqh2U

In this episode, Jacked Javelin takes the role of representing the javelin world, while Sam Weeks—from Throws University and Garage Strength—dives deep into the discus and shot put side of the throwing world. Together, they explore how these events overlap, where they differ, and how understanding all three can make you a more complete and intelligent thrower.This conversation goes beyond drills and technique—it’s about bridging the cultures, biomechanics, and coaching philosophies behind rotational and linear throwing. Whether you’re chasing big PRs in javelin, discus, or shot, this episode connects the dots between power, rhythm, and intent in elite throwing.🔥 Topics Covered:How rotational mechanics from discus and shot put carry over to javelinWhy posture, hip connection, and rhythm are universal throwing principlesThe biggest technical mistakes seen across each eventThe evolution of strength training at Throws University and Garage StrengthHow to train like an explosive athlete first and a thrower secondThe role of feel, patience, and proprioception in high-level throwingWhy collaboration between throwing communities matters more than ever💡 Key Takeaways for Throwers & Coaches:How to create transferable movement patterns between rotational and linear throwsWhy elastic strength and reactive timing are as important as max strengthHow throwers can adapt their lifting and technical sessions for crossover gainsWhat “bridging the gap” really looks like in practice—not just theoryWhy understanding multiple events can make you a better coach, athlete, and mover🎤 About the Guests:Sam Weeks – Throws coach and performance specialist with Throws University and Garage Strength. Sam has helped countless throwers develop elite-level power and technique through a blend of modern biomechanics, strength science, and practical coaching insight. His background in discus and shot put brings a rotational perspective to every conversation.Jacked Javelin – Representing the linear thrower’s lens, Jacked Javelin dives into how elasticity, whip, and sequencing define the javelin throw. Known for his detailed breakdowns, athlete interviews, and 1,000+ hours of coaching and podcasting experience, he brings the speed and precision mindset of javelin to this conversation.Together, they break down how the rotational and linear systems can learn from one another—and why the best throwers in the world are often hybrids of both.🏋️‍♂️ About Throws University & Garage Strength:Throws University is one of the leading educational platforms for throwers and coaches—offering world-class training systems, certification courses, and technical resources for the shot put, discus, javelin, and hammer throw.Garage Strength, led by Dane Miller, is renowned for developing Olympic-level athletes and refining explosive strength systems that translate directly to the throws.