In this Q&A episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down the real mechanics behind training timing, back pain, mobility, recovery, and the exercises that actually build a stronger, more athletic body after 30, 40, and 50.

Listeners asked Judd about training schedules, sciatica, lower-back tightness, unconventional lifts, posture, belts, trap-bar deadlifts, martial arts, and long-term muscle maintenance—and Judd gives detailed, practical answers rooted in biomechanics, coaching experience, and real-world application.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The real best time of day to train (and why hormones matter less than you think)
• Sleep quality, stress, and lifestyle as training regulators
• Why mobility and stability must come before heavier lifting
• What actually causes chronic lower-back tightness—and how to fix it
• The role of coiling, rotation, and unconventional training tools
• Rows vs. pulldowns for back development
• How aging shifts fat-loss and recovery strategies
• When lifting belts help—and when they make you weaker
• Trap-bar deadlift advantages for posture and biomechanics
• How Judd balances martial arts with strength training
• What “success” means to Judd beyond training and performance

If you’re trying to train smarter, reduce injury, stay athletic as you age, and understand the principles that truly move the needle, this episode is for you.

New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 5a CST.

Follow Judd Lienhard on Instagram @juddlienhard
Train Judd’s MASS Method inside his app: juddlienhard.com

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Performance coach Tim Riley returns to the Judd Lienhard Podcast for a high-level conversation on hybrid athletes, TRT, Olympic lifting, CrossFit culture, movement selection, and what truly drives athletic development today.

Tim has coached NFL athletes, Olympians, and elite competitors across multiple sports. In this episode, he and Judd break down the real principles behind power development, identity traps, steroid culture, coaching philosophy, programming mistakes, and how the fitness world has shifted over the last decade.

You’ll hear stories from NFL Combine prep, wild athlete experiences (Micah Parsons and Ja’Marr Chase get mentioned), plus myth-busting on hypertrophy dogma, kettlebell hate, Mike Israetel controversies, CNS fatigue, deadlift debates, mobility misconceptions, and more.

If you're an athlete, coach, or hybrid lifter chasing your potential, this episode will challenge your thinking and sharpen your approach to training.

Topics Covered

• Olympic lifts vs. power alternatives
• CrossFit standards and movement dysfunction
• Functional training: where it went wrong (and right)
• Isolation work & machine training for athletes
• How identity sabotages training decisions
• Athlete vs. hybrid athlete: redefining the term
• Apex: building a simple, brutal competition model
• Kettlebells, accommodating resistance & hypertrophy myths
• Mike Israetel controversies & criticism in the fitness world
• Power, speed, and why sprinting is a different animal
• Steroids, TRT, stigma & hormone realities
• Deadlifting for athletes: when it matters
• CNS fatigue myths and programming mistakes

Follow Tim Riley

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/timrileytraining/
Coach ’Em Up Podcast — https://open.spotify.com/show/4wjmPXjz59op5E5uPg5ATk

Follow Judd Lienhard

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/juddlienhard/
YouTube — hthttps://www.youtube.com/@JuddLienhard
👉 Try Judd’s Training App — Free for 7 Days
https://www.juddlienhard.com

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Olympic lifting debates
 03:20 – Power training adaptations
 10:55 – The evolution of “functional training”
 15:20 – Isolation work & addressing weak links
 22:40 – What defines an “athlete”?
 28:10 – Apex: simple, brutal athletic competition
 33:55 – CrossFit culture & misconceptions
 40:20 – Mike Israetel: genius, autism, and criticism
 47:00 – Kettlebells & hypertrophy dogma
 58:20 – Strength, speed & sprinting
 72:10 – TRT stigma & hormone realities
 78:40 – Steroids, myths & athletic enhancement
 85:50 – Deadlifts: when they matter
 92:30 – CNS fatigue myths

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

🎙 Q&A with Judd Lienhard: Cycling + Strength Training, Joint Pain Fixes, Foot Mechanics, Training While Sick & More

In this performance-focused Q&A, Judd Lienhard answers some of the most common training questions athletes are asking today. From combining cycling with weight training, to resolving chronic joint pain, improving foot mechanics, training decisions when you’re sick, prepping for SF selection, and choosing the right program—Judd breaks down every topic with simple, science-backed guidance.

This episode blends biomechanics, physiology, and practical strength strategy to help you train smarter, stay athletic for life, and avoid wasting time on the wrong methods.

Topics Covered:
• How to pair cycling with effective strength training
• Why Judd uses the Zercher squat pattern
• Joint pain solutions: tendons, tracking, arthritis & more
• When to train vs rest while sick
• How to build robustness and work capacity for SF selection
• Foot strength, gait mechanics & barefoot training considerations
• How to choose a training program that actually works for you
• Equipment needed for Judd’s MASS Method training app
• Whether the Arnold-style shoulder press is useful or overrated

Follow Judd Lienhard:
Instagram: @juddlienhard
Training App (MASS Method – 7-day free trial): https://www.juddlienhard.com/

About the Judd Lienhard Podcast:
The Judd Lienhard Podcast is about strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Hosted by performance coach and Army Ranger veteran Judd Lienhard, the show breaks down training, mindset, and modern human performance.
• Full-length episodes every Tuesday at 5 AM CST
• Q&A episodes every Thursday at 5 AM CST

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

What does functional fitness actually mean—and how do you know if your training is truly functional? In this episode, performance coach Judd Lienhard breaks down one of the most overused and misunderstood concepts in the fitness industry.

Judd explains what “functionality” really is, why most definitions miss the mark, and how to determine which exercises actually carry over to strength, movement, and real-world capability. He explores why flashy or “functional-looking” movements often fail, why no exercise is inherently functional or nonfunctional, and how to design training that supports the way you live, perform, and move.

You’ll learn:

• How to determine whether an exercise is functional for your goals
• Why the “it must look functional” mentality leads people astray
• The difference between training strength vs. endurance (and why it matters)
• Why lunges often build more real-world capability than maxing out squats
• How isolating muscles can sometimes be the most functional choice
• Why aesthetics still matter for long-term capability and resilience

Ultimately, real functional fitness is individualized, purpose-driven, and built around the demands of your actual life—not trends, internet dogma, or theoretical scenarios. Judd gives you a clear, practical framework for building training that makes you stronger, more capable, and more athletic.

Train with Judd

Start your 7-day free trial of Judd’s fitness app — the exclusive home of MASS Method programming for movement, athleticism, strength, and speed.
 https://www.juddlienhard.com

About the Show

The Judd Lienhard Podcast explores what it means to Always Be An Athlete — in mind, body, and life. Hosted by former Army Ranger, college linebacker, and performance coach Judd Lienhard.
New episodes every Tuesday at 5a CST.

Follow Judd

Instagram: instagram.com/juddlienhard/
YouTube: youtube.com/@juddlienhard

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

In this Q&A session, Judd Lienhard breaks down your most requested training topics—from youth athletic development and play-based strength foundations, to hypertrophy work for athletes, BJJ conditioning, smart recovery strategies, and practical muscle-building nutrition. If you want to train smarter, stay athletic for life, and avoid the noise of overly complicated fitness advice, this episode delivers clear, actionable answers.

Topics Covered

• Child training and play-based strength foundations
• Transitioning from athlete-style training to general performance
• Hypertrophy for athletes: what helps and what doesn’t
• Nutrition for muscle gain: protein, carbs, and timing
• Recovery and intensity management
• When band and isometric days actually make sense
• Strength and conditioning for BJJ athletes
• Judd’s favorite old-school lifts

Timestamps
0:17 – Child training: strength, athleticism & play-based learning
2:46 – Transitioning from athlete training to “normal” training
4:18 – Hypertrophy for athletes: benefits & limitations
5:45 – Nutrition for muscle gain: protein, carbs & timing
7:54 – Recovery strategies: intensity vs difficulty
10:41 – Band + isometric days: when they make sense
11:48 – Strength & conditioning for BJJ athletes
14:25 – Judd’s favorite old-school lifts

About the Judd Lienhard Podcast
The Judd Lienhard Podcast explores strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Hosted by Judd Lienhard—Army Ranger, performance coach, and creator of the MASS Method—the show breaks down training, mindset, and human performance without the fluff.
Full-length episodes release every Tuesday at 5 a.m. CST, and Q&A episodes release Thursdays at 5 a.m. CST.

Follow Judd Lienhard
Instagram: @juddlienhard
YouTube: @juddlienhard

Judd's Fitness App (7-day free trial): https://www.juddlienhard.com/

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

In this episode, Judd sits down with Peloton instructor and hybrid athlete Logan Aldridge to explore what it really means to maintain an athlete mindset through injury, adversity, and unexpected setbacks. Logan lost his arm at 13 in a traumatic accident—but what makes his story powerful isn’t the injury, it’s the mindset he built because of it.

Judd and Logan break down the practical mental skills athletes use to stay grounded and keep progressing when training gets disrupted. You’ll learn how Logan rebuilt his confidence, questioned his limiting beliefs, took action before conditions were perfect, created momentum during rehab, and turned a disadvantage into a genuine advantage.

Whether you're working through an injury, struggling with motivation, or navigating a tough season of life, this conversation gives you the tools to move forward with clarity, intention, and confidence.

Connect with Judd

Build strength, athleticism, and discipline—every season of life—with Judd’s daily training programs:
👉 Judd Lienhard Training App: https://www.juddlienhard.com/
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juddlienhard/
👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@juddlienhard

Connect with Logan Aldridge

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loganaldridge
👉 Website: https://www.loganaldridge.com
👉 Peloton: Search "Logan Aldridge" on the Peloton platform

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Strength training Q&A with Judd Lienhard.
In this episode, Judd breaks down common misconceptions around training intensity, deloads, creatine, peptides, gender-specific programming, and why inmates build muscle despite poor nutrition. Direct answers, with real exercise science and practical takeaways.

What Judd covers:
• How inmates get strong with limited food quality
• When deload weeks matter—and when they don’t
• Whether any exercises should be gender-specific
• Creatine: benefits, safety, myths, and proper dosing
• An overview of peptides like BPC-157, TB-500, and MOTS-C
• Judd’s recommended reading list

Key ideas:
• The training stimulus drives adaptation more than perfect nutrition.
• General strength and power work transfers better than most people think.
• Deloads are only effective when you’ve actually been pushing hard.
• Women do not need separate training systems—the fundamentals apply to everyone.
• Creatine is one of the safest, most researched supplements available, and peptides may support recovery depending on individual context.

Judd's Top Fitness Book Recommendations:
- Triphasic Training by Cal Deitz
- Supertraining by Mel Siff & Yuri Verkhoshansky
- Charlie Francis Training System by Charlie Francis
- Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett
- Breathing for Warriors by Dr. Belisa Vranich & Brian Sabin
- The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss

General (Non-Fitness) Books Judd Loves:
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
- The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
- The Rebel by Albert Camus
- Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief by James McPherson
- Rick Atkinson’s WWII Trilogy:
   1. An Army at Dawn
   2. The Day of Battle
   3. The Guns at Last Light
- Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War by Rick Atkinson
- Ian Toll’s Pacific War Trilogy:
   1. Pacific Crucible
   2. The Conquering Tide
   3. Twilight of the Gods

Some of the product links above are affiliate links, which means Judd may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no additional cost to you.

About the Judd Lienhard Podcast:
The show focuses on strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Judd breaks down training, mindset, and performance through both long-form episodes and rapid-fire Q&A minis.

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Judd sits down with Trevor Millar, co-founder of AMBIO Life Sciences — the Ibogaine clinic where Judd received treatment through VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions), founded by Marcus and Amber Capone and featured in the film In Waves and War.

If you learned about VETS or Ibogaine through In Waves and War, this episode breaks down exactly how the treatment works and why so many veterans, operators, and first responders are seeking it out.

Judd and Trevor dive into:

• Judd’s Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT experience
 • How AMBIO treats PTSD, combat trauma, depression, addiction, and TBI
 • The Stanford study showing Ibogaine reversing traumatic brain injury
 • Why Navy SEALs, Rangers, and Special Forces are turning to this option
 • What the Ibogaine experience actually feels like
 • Why Ibogaine has a 40–60% success rate for opioid addiction
 • The safety protocols AMBIO uses
 • The push to legalize Ibogaine in the United States
 • The real story behind In Waves and War

Whether you’re a veteran, athlete, or someone managing trauma, PTSD, depression, or TBI, this conversation may offer insight into a life-changing path toward healing.

About AMBIO:
AMBIO is a fully medically supervised Ibogaine clinic treating PTSD, TBI, depression, anxiety, addiction, and chronic emotional patterns.
Learn more: https://www.ambio.life

AMBIO's IG: @ambiolifesciences
Trevor Millar's IG: @psychedelic_provider

Judd’s Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juddlienhard
Training & Merch: https://www.juddlienhard.com

Resources
VETS: https://vetsolutions.org
Veteran Crisis Line: 988 (Press 1)

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

🔥 Strength training Q&A with Judd Lienhard: How to train smart, stay strong, and build athletic capacity that lasts.

Former Army Ranger and performance coach, Judd Lienhard, answers real questions from real listeners, covering training after 50, lower back strength, and efficient full-body workouts.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Why Judd’s doing fan Q&As
00:25 – Best leg exercises for men 50+ (how to train hard without breaking down)
02:00 – Building your lower back with minimal home equipment
03:10 – How to train full body when you only have three days a week
04:20 – The truth about Bulgarian split squat strength carryover
05:40 – How to bias lunges for quads vs hamstrings

Key Takeaways:
- You can still train hard after 50 — just separate load, speed, and range of motion.
- A Roman chair or 45° back extension is the best investment for home back training.
- With limited time, an upper/lower split keeps recovery balanced.
- You don’t need heavy barbell squats to be strong.
- Train with intent, not trends.

About the Judd Lienhard Podcast:
The Judd Lienhard Podcast is about strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Hosted by Judd Lienhard, the show breaks down training, mindset, and performance.
Full-length podcast episodes drop every Tuesday at 5 a.m. CST, and Mini Q&A episodes drop on Thursdays at 11 a.m. CST.

Follow Judd Lienhard:
📱 Instagram: @juddlienhard
📺 YouTube: @juddlienhard

Train Judd's MASS Method:
💪 Fitness App, Try it Free for 7-days: https://www.juddlienhard.com/

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

You’re not 20 anymore — but you can still perform like an athlete.

In this episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down how men over 35 can build muscle, boost testosterone, and train for longevity without burning out. Drawing from 15+ years of coaching and his own experience as a former Army Ranger and college linebacker, Judd shares what it really takes to stay strong, capable, and athletic as you age.

He opens up about the wake-up call that forced him to change his approach — from overtraining and low testosterone to redefining success as an athlete, a father, and a man.

In This Episode:

• How to keep building strength and muscle after 40 without joint pain
• What changes with testosterone, stress, and recovery in your 30s and 40s
• The diet and supplement mistakes that sabotage longevity
• How Judd rebuilt his body after years of training too hard
• The truth about sleep, alcohol, and inflammation
• Why “Always Be An Athlete” matters more than ever as you age

Key Takeaways:

• You can’t out-train bad recovery.
• Sleep, nutrition, and mobility are performance multipliers.
• Discipline evolves — it’s about longevity, not ego.
• Train to feel good, move well, and stay capable for life.

About Judd Lienhard:
Judd Lienhard is a former Army Ranger, college linebacker, and elite performance coach who helps men stay athletic, disciplined, and powerful for life. On The Judd Lienhard Podcast, he shares lessons from two decades of coaching athletes, executives, and fathers who refuse to fade out.

Ready to train smarter and stay in the game?
Join thousands of men inside Judd Lienhard’s Fitness App — get structured training built for athletes over 30.
👉 Start your free trial today at: https://www.juddlienhard.com/

Follow Judd:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juddlienhard/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlienhard

This episode is brought to you by LMNT.

Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥