Episode 45 of The Layback Podcast features Pitching Consultant Austin Marchesani. With previous stops including the Los Angeles Angels, University of Iowa, and Premier Pitching Performance (P3), Austin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working alongside some of the game's brightest minds. Marchesani's career really got started where most people's ends - with injury. From injury, Austin went all in on coaching and player development. He has done significant work on stuff models, building Iowa's Stuff+ system. Adam and Austin spend a great deal of time on this as Adam strives to better understand the distinctions between different models. Marchesani also shares his insights on workload management, breaking down his recent X (Twitter) thread that made its way around the baseball sphere.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uwXVh66CluU

Episode 44 of The Layback Podcast features Josh Epstein, Assistant Coach at the University of Richmond. Since joining the Spiders in 2021 after his tenure at Monmouth, Epstein has led the pitching department with a focus on relationship-building and long-term player development. The Cleveland native emphasizes an "it takes a village" mentality, explaining how Richmond leverages support staff, fosters player-led environments, and incorporates external resources to empower individuals and drive team success. Throughout the episode, Epstein’s commitment to lifelong learning and his humble approach to coaching stand out, offering valuable insights into creating sustainable systems for growth both on and off the field.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TsQiESZZ3VY

FlexPro Grip's very own Director of Operations, Gavin Keipp-Stroud, makes his Layback debut to review the 2024 Wake Forest Player Development Seminar. Episode 43 of The Layback Podcast contains a complete summary of each of this year's speakers (aside from the one we missed - sorry Ben!), highlighted by personal takeaways and general notes that can be applicable to any coach, team, or organization. Gavin and Adam do their best to synthesize the presentations and provide actionable takeaways for the audience.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fF2GN29SnzM

Dan Mahoney, founder of Player Development Lab (Virginia) and former Rehab Pitching Coordinator for the Cleveland Guardians, joins episode 42 of The Layback Podcast. Known on social media as "Rehab Pitching Guy," Dan is dedicated to ensuring no one’s career ends the way his did. A Tommy John surgery veteran himself, Mahoney emphasizes the importance of individualization, objectivity, communication, and goal-setting in pitching development and rehabilitation. With experience in both professional baseball and the private sector, Dan offers valuable insights into MLB’s recently released Pitcher Injury Report - a recurring topic of discussion throughout the episode.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z3sMpzV7hAo

Miller Hogan marks the first two time guest in The Layback Podcast's short history. The Tommy John Hybrid Reconstruction survivor joins episode 41 to discuss the latter half of his rehab and his valiant return to the mound for the Gigantes de Carolina in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rican Winter League). Miller takes listeners on a journey from where we last left off in April to his December 10 debut for Carolina. Although his performance was a tad shaky, he made it through the outing feeling healthy and confident in the work he has put in. Finally feeling like a pitcher again, Miller discusses his goals for the season, as well as divulges the reality of an independent leaguer fighting for a contract, stating, "you're only as good as your last year." You can watch Hogan and the Gigantes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@LBPRC21TV/streams.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/av8Ok0hDQzc

Highly sought after 2026 recruit and Tommy John survivor, Andrew Bennett, and his father, Thomas, joined The Layback Podcast for episode 40. The father and son duo discuss Andrew's rise in the recruiting ranks and fighting through the battle of Tommy John recovery. Andrew highlights the objective approach to his return that he feels helped him stay competitive and motivated. Thomas sings the praises of his son's routine and celebrates the circle of support that has helped Andrew with his return to the mound. The two discuss the use of FlexPro Grip and the Driveline PULSE Sensor as key components in Andrew's rehab. Andrew continues to prep for what is now his junior season, after reclassifying from the 2027 grad year to 2026, in hopes of bringing home a state title. Also on the horizon is a potential college commitment.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hrmeS79exsY

Payton Lobdell, founder of Backyard Bullpens and Pitching Coach at Hope International University, joins The Layback Podcast as we learn about his winding road through college and professional baseball. From dealing with injuries to credits not transferring, there were plenty of setbacks that could have deterred Payton from pressing on. With the onset of COVID in 2020, Lobdell stepped away from the mound and started training athletes in his backyard at his southern California home. As word of mouth spread and his clientele grew, this marked the beginning of Backyard Bullpens. Beyond his success in the private sector, Lobdell was also crowned a National Champion with the HIU Royals when they took home the NAIA title in June 2024, his first year on staff. Now, in his second year with HIU and approaching his fifth running The Yard, Lobdell is excited about what the future holds.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AfDIvGRl194

Dr. Jeff Steuck, physical therapist at Kinetic Sports Medicine (KSMP), joins episode 38 of The Layback Podcast. The Dayton Flyer Alum was a former college teammate of Adam's, and through the small world of baseball, health, and performance training the two have reconnected. Steuck is a Kenosha, WI native who has spent time both in sides of the PT world - insurance based and cash pay. These two realms offer different experiences, but have both greatly influenced Jeff's approach to patient care. Adam and Jeff spent a large portion of the show diving deep on assessments, objectivity, and long term patient/athlete care. Steuck cites the importance of relationship building, as well as being able to both talk the talk and walk the walk. Check out KSMP at KineticSMP.com.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bPJ-KsvdBOc

Erik Supplee, Assistant Baseball Coach at the University of San Francisco, joins The Layback Podcast for episode 37. Soup, as he is affectionately known, has quite the coaching resume with stops across multiple level college baseball, highlighted by a 7 year stint at Columbia. Charged with guiding the pitching staffs at his various stops, Supplee has developed quite a knack for helping pitchers discover and accentuate what they do best through the use of analytics, technology, and just plain ol' baseball acumen. Adam and Erik discuss pitcher development progressions and even take a bit of a dive into the teaching Stoicism. Learning the importance of time valuation and self-worth are two of the bigger takeaway from the episode. Soup's light hearted and introspective nature shines through with little stories along the way. Go Dons!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LZMiOIgjQ58

Toledo Rocket Redshirt Senior right handed pitcher Logan Danziesen makes his debut on The Layback Podcast (episode 36). The Sylvania, OH native graduated from Southview High School and went on to play college ball at Purdue University, prior to transferring to University of Toledo for grad school and to finish out his college career. Danziesen started to experience some elbow issues in high school but was able to tough it out until eventually blowing out during the spring of his freshman year at Purdue. Prior to the decision to get surgery, he managed the pain and discomfort through periodic shutdowns but could never fully get out of the woods. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, he rehabbed back but never saw significant innings again as a Boilermaker. Fast forward to 2023, he earned a pivotal role with the Rockets and was throwing regularly only to be sidelined by a nerve issue, tremendously impacting his velocity and control. Once again, Danziesen went under the knife. Now rehabbing once again, Logan is throwing pens and routinely chucking in the mid 90s with improved pitch shapes. Throughout the episode, he highlights his rehab processes and the addition of FlexPro Grip to his routine, giving great insight to a career of ups and downs and battles with injury.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xlsJML3IAfE