The Masters Athlete Survival Guide

The Masters Athlete Survival Guide

By John Katalinas and Scott FikeHealth & FitnessLeisureFitnessHobbies
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The Masters Athlete Survival Guide episodes

  • Bruce Young on Normalizing Success, Practicing Failure, and Mindset Mastery

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    We sit down with Bruce Young, a 62-year-old, four-time CrossFit Games athlete, to unpack the mindset, coaching, and habits that keep masters athletes sharp and improving. From GNAT to PAT, process over results, and training failure states, we map a clear way to compete stronger at any age.

    • finding the sport you love and committing
    • building a tribe that normalises success
    • separating results goals from process goals
    • replacing negative automatic thoughts with positive ones
    • writing the target number before the lift
    • pre-competition centering and gratitude rituals
    • practicing failure states to handle chaos
    • coaching that confronts habits and expands ceilings
    • heat, humidity, and environmental prep as an edge
    • applying athletic mindset to parenting, music, and work

    If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review
    To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide
    Now get off our lawn, you damn kids


    @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

    New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

    Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

    46 min
  • Masters Mindset Minute: Winning Every Workout

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    A one minute reset to start your week off right!

    @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

    New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

    Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

    2 min
  • Mastering Pain: How Athletes Over 40 Tell Hurt From Harm

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    We question the line between hurt and injured, then map a practical way to keep training after 40 without quitting. Warmups become diagnostics, mobility turns into insurance, and goals give way to systems that keep you consistent and strong.

    • defining hurt versus injured for masters athletes
    • using warmups to detect red flags
    • avoiding hidden compensations and imbalances
    • mobility and prehab as first training block
    • simple tools for resilient joints and core
    • intelligent modifications to keep momentum
    • systems over brittle outcome goals
    • when to consult PT, coach, or doctor
    • accessory work that protects weak links
    • how to adapt without stopping completely

    If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review
    To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide

    @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

    New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

    Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

    52 min
  • Coach Joe "Big House" Kenn’s Blueprint for Stronger Training After 40

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    We sit down with veteran NFL and college strength coach Joe "Big House" Kenn to talk about what actually keeps athletes strong as they age and why the basics beat the flashy tools. We dig into Block Zero, the Tier System, and the mindset shift that helps masters athletes train hard without chasing who they used to be. 
    • Joe Ken’s coaching background across college football and the NFL 
    • why mobility, stability, and simple positions come before heavy loading 
    • Block Zero as an on-ramp for athletes who are not ready to lift hard 
    • masters athletes as “100% of who you are today” rather than a comparison to past PRs 
    • preactivity preparation with bands, activation, and readiness work as non-negotiable 
    • how language changes effort: preparation progression sets instead of warm-up sets 
    • the Tier System as exercise choice and order, not a single periodization style 
    • adapting training to time available and injury history 
    • strongman, armlifting, grip strength, and staying in the game without catastrophic risk 
    If you enjoyed this episode and you’d like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review. To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide. 


    @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

    New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

    Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

    1 hr 8 min
  • Masters Mindset Minute: Centering and Gratitude

    Send us Fan Mail

    A one minute reset to start your week off right!

    @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

    New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

    Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

    2 min
  • Moderation With Muscle: Smarter Training After 40

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    We tackle caffeine habits, realistic training for masters athletes, and why processes often beat goals when consistency matters most. The thread is accountable moderation: push just past comfortable, track what matters, and build systems that last.

    • dialing back caffeine and understanding tolerance
    • energy drink choices vs coffee and pre-workout timing
    • processes as a foundation for sustainable progress
    • realistic goals, discipline and avoiding all or nothing
    • bodyweight basics for balance and fall prevention
    • 80 percent training and knowing when to stop
    • interval ideas, walking meetings and daily movement
    • journaling, wearables and personal data for feedback
    • accountable moderation as the long term strategy
    • caffeine’s possible impact on blood sugar and sleep

    If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review
    To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Master's Athlete Survival Guide


    @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

    New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

    Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

    52 min
  • From Muay Thai to Mindset: How Fitness and Grit Saved Ty Wilson

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    We share how training saved Ty’s life after a brutal car crash, then unpack the mindset, habits, and community support that carried him through recovery and back to service. We also break down Muay Thai lessons, youth coaching, and The MYCROBIG Project’s blueprint for turning ideas into impact.

    • fitness as protective armor after 40
    • injuries, setbacks, and rebuilding identity
    • fixed mindset versus growth mindset
    • Muay Thai conditioning and core endurance
    • coaching kids’ minds before mechanics
    • MYCROBIG intake, LLC and 501c3 support
    • Destination We, camps, and a new school
    • authentic self, legacy, and daily discipline

    If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review
    To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide


    @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

    New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

    Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night 

    58 min

About The Masters Athlete Survival Guide

From the publisher's feed

We explore thriving as an athlete after 40. Each episode, we’ll dive into tips, hacks, and inspiring stories from seasoned athletes and our personal experience. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or…