We train our bodies for performance and longevity, but with so much focus on the physical aspects, little attention has been given to our brain health. In this episode, Ryan Glatt and Aimee Nicotera, co-authors of Brain Health and Exercise, explore the benefits and importance of training our brain. 

Brain Health and Exercise: A Professional's Guide to Dual-Tasking Techniques and Programming https://monkeylink.co/cf0cf9

Ryan Glatt, MSc, CPT, MES, NBC-HWC

Ryan Glatt is a certified personal trainer and a board-certified health and wellness coach with over a decade of experience. He focuses his exercise and health coaching strategies on brain health, personalizing lifestyle interventions for individuals with brain and cognitive health goals.

Glatt has studied at Amen Clinics, the BrainFirst Institute, the Neuroscience Academy, and the Academy for Brain Health and Performance. He has a master's of applied neuroscience from King's College of London and is currently enrolled in a PhD program in leadership, with a minor in gerontology, through Concordia University of Chicago.

Glatt is a senior brain health coach and the director of the FitBrain program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. As the developer of the program, he combines brain and body training (also called dual-task training) through "serious exergaming" (purposeful, goal-oriented games that involve physical movement), which utilizes innovative technologies to train cognitive and physical skills simultaneously. His passion for "games for good" has continued into the realm of brain health, and he actively consults for several technology companies in clinical exergaming, gamified rehabilitation, and dual-task training.

He also has a passion for continued education; he developed the first comprehensive course on brain health and exercise for health and fitness professionals, the Brain Health Trainer course, which is distributed by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He is an experienced international speaker on the topic of brain health and exercise and enjoys educating professionals in a variety of settings.

Aimee Nicotera, MS, ACSM-EP, ACE-GFI, AFAA, PFT, AHHPS Level 3, AFAA GFI

Aimee Nicotera is an international fitness presenter, owner of her own personal training business and virtual fitness studio, with over 30 years experience. She has served in roles such as health coach, high school health educator, corporate wellness advisor, and fitness director. With extensive experience creating and developing group fitness programs and consulting, researching, and writing for fitness companies - including Spartan, Life Time, and MOSSA - she is always exploring ways to create innovative fitness and wellness experiences.

Nicotera holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition science, a master's degree in health education, and numerous certifications, including ACSM's Exercise Physiologist certification, ACE's Group Fitness Instructor certification, and AFAA's Personal Fitness Trainer credential. She holds the Institute of Motion's Level 3 Applied Health and Human Performance Specialist credential, and she is creator of the fitness DVD series 2x2 Conditioning and Take 20! as well as the E5 Collective, a science-based brain and body fitness format. She is a Master Trainer for Core Health & Fitness and co-lead for their CoreFit Cycle program powered by Schwinn. Aimee is the 2024 IDEA World Fitness Instructor of the Year. As a board member of Youth Athletic Foundation, Aimee is actively involved in promoting and supporting local youth in Cape Cod, MA and surrounding areas, to embrace active lifestyles.

Speed training, and specifically sprint interval training, is essential for performance improvements among basketball players. For coaches, the question becomes the timing of speed training. Should it be done at the beginning of practice, or after basketball-specific training? In this episode we breakdown a recently published research study exploring the effects of speed training before and after practice. Which order do you think is best?

Sequencing Effects of Sprint Interval Training Applied Before or After Regular Basketball Training on Sex-Specific Physical Performance Adaptations in Young Athletes

Tian, L., Jie, C., and Guo, H. (2025). Sequencing effects of sprint interval training applied before or after regular basketball training on sex-specific physical performance adaptations in young athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 20; 1654-1664.

You don't have to be a bodybuilder to train for hypertrophy. In fact, hypertrophy is a goal of many people who train regularly and never intend to step on stage for competition. In this episode, certified trainers Aaron Patterson and Frank Eyeson discuss training for hypertrophy, what a training plan might look like for someone seeking to add muscle, and some common myths surrounding this popular training method.

Athletes have a standard warm-up routine to get ready for competition. But what about halftime? It could be argued the athletes don't need to warm up again, but others might disagree. After getting passive rest during the break, are there benefits to going through a re-warm-up before the action continues? In this episode, we take a look at a piece of research that attempts to answer that question.

There are numerous benefits to stretching, including reducing soreness, improving flexibility, and prepping for physical activity. But did you know, there are many health benefits that go beyond flexibility? In this episode, Dr. Tyler Farney, co-author of Stretching Anatomy, Fourth Edition, discusses why stretching is so important and how we can benefit from incorporating it into our daily routine.

Stretching Anatomy, Fourth Edition

https://monkeylink.co/66e582

Tyler M. Farney, PhD, CSCS

Dr. Tyler Farney is an assistant professor in the Division of Health Sciences and Human Performance at Concordia University Chicago. His research has examined the biochemical, physiological, and biomechanical adaptations in the neuromuscular system in response to acute and chronic stressors. Dr. Farney has over 15 years of strength and conditioning experience, which has included working with all levels of athletes, from high school to the professional levels. He earned his PhD in exercise physiology from Louisiana State University and resides in Salida, Colorado.

In baseball, pitchers have two ways they can deliver the ball. They can either go out of the stretch position or the windup. Deciding which delivery to use may be personal preference, but it can also be dictated by game situations. The question becomes, are there benefits to using one method over the other? In this episode, we dive into the topic by way of a research study published in the Human Kinetics Journals and the Journal of Applied Biomechanics. Listen along and learn what the research says.

Injuries happen. While not all injuries are 100 percent preventable, the risk can be minimized through a well-designed strength training program and by utilizing proper rest and recovery protocols. In this episode, certified trainers Aaron Patterson and Frank Eyeson discuss how to reduce the risk of injuries and how to work around setbacks.

Have you ever taken a nap and felt extra refreshed upon waking up? How much does caffeine impact your performance? There is plenty of research on the benefits of both sleep and caffeine on performance, but what if you use both to enhance performance further? The question is, will the combination work, or are you better off using only one method? In this episode, NSCA certified trainer Aaron Patterson looks into what the research says about the benefits of naps and caffeine on performance as he breaks down an article from the Human Kinetics Journals. Listen along to learn how to get the most out of your performance.

Whether you are an athlete, coach, or parent, you know the impact injuries can have on performance. Depending on the severity, it can limit an athlete's physical ability, or even for them to sit out of competition for an extended period of time. We know the physical implications, but what about the mental implications. In this episode, NSCA certified trainer and Mental Performance Consultant (AASP) Aaron Patterson explores the relationship between injury, mental health, and athletic performance through the lens of a study published in 2026 in the Human Kinetics Journals.

How much sleep do you get? If you're like most, you don't get the recommended amount of sleep, and while you may think it is only making you tired, the impacts can be much greater than waking up a little sluggish. In this episode, we look why sleep is so important, and how it could be impacting your performance.