The statistics are grim: young men are falling behind their female peers in graduation rates, employment, and relationships—and leading in depression, suicide, and social isolation.

In this episode, we share these numbers with four men in their 20s—MTI Coach Emmett Shaul (29) and three current MTI interns—and ask for their honest reactions. What do these stats reflect about their generation? Are they experiencing this decline firsthand? And what do they think the future holds?

This is a candid, unscripted conversation about masculinity, struggle, resilience, and the state of young men in America today.

Solo episode today. Founder Rob Shaul answers emailed Questions from athletes concerning preparing for SWAT selection, overcoming plateaus in strength training, and scheduling programming for a multi-sport, often traveling mountain athlete. 

Rob and Charlie discuss the concept of mental fitness, exploring its core attributes, the importance of self-correction, and the triggers that indicate a lapse in mental fitness. They delve into practical applications, the role of emotions like frustration and defeat, and the challenges of training mental fitness across different modes. The discussion emphasizes the need for awareness and the ability to pause and diagnose one's mental state in order to re-engage effectively.

Rob, Brian, and Dan challenge the conventional wisdom around "mental toughness" by redefining it as mental fitness—a trainable, perishable, and multidimensional attribute. Drawing from military, athletic, academic, and corporate experiences, they explore how key traits like perseverance, resilience, emotional control, mental endurance, and cognitive flexibility interact—and sometimes break down—under stress.

The trio debates the differences between perseverance and discipline, unpacks personal failures (including triathlons gone wrong and meltdowns in the mountains), and questions whether mental fitness truly transfers across domains like work, relationships, and backcountry hunts. They discuss how self-awareness, daily stressors, and deliberate discomfort can serve as powerful training grounds for building mental strength.

Finally, they raise essential questions: Can mental fitness be trained systematically like physical fitness? What role do environment and emotional response play? And how might we design a "mental gym" to sharpen the mind daily?

Read our work on Mental Fitness:

Charlie, Seung, Jackson, and Sam discuss July's mini-study designs, focusing on velocity-based training, rucking strategies, and climbing training. The participants discuss the purpose and protocols of their studies, comparing traditional strength programming with velocity-based approaches, and examining the effectiveness of different rucking strategies. They also delve into climbing training, emphasizing the importance of finger strength and endurance. The discussion highlights the challenges of balancing multiple training protocols and the expected outcomes of their upcoming training cycles.

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In this episode, MTI's interns conducted a Q&A Rob Shaul covering key principles in strength and conditioning. Rob discusses his most unique coaching experience—whitewater kayakers—highlighting the upper-body-focused training and sport-specific programming he developed to meet their needs.

He explains the rationale behind his TLU (Total Lower and Upper) complex training method, which pairs heavy lifts with low-rep explosive bodyweight exercises to enhance strength and power. The conversation emphasizes Rob’s belief in simplifying training programs over time, with a focus on real-world performance rather than gym-based metrics. He critiques conventional approaches like plyometrics, mobility work, and elaborate warm-ups, arguing they offer little return compared to straightforward, mission-specific training.

Rob stresses the value of developing athlete assessments to guide programming, citing MTI’s extensive history of creating job- and sport-specific tests. He shares how many of MTI’s effective exercises evolved through testing and athlete feedback, and describes current experiments on strength maintenance with minimal training volume, power-based work capacity, and sled push applications.

The discussion reflects MTI’s core philosophy: simplify where possible, test relentlessly, and always train for performance outside the gym.

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MTI Athletes Dan and Derrick join Rob and Charlie to explore the multifaceted nature of fatherhood, discussing what it means to be a good dad, the emotional connections with children, and the responsibilities fathers hold for their children's successes and failures.

They delve into personal experiences, the impact of their own fathers, and the balance between being a provider and being emotionally present. The discussion also touches on the differences in raising sons versus daughters, the importance of trust, and the personal growth that comes with fatherhood.

With insights from research on fatherhood, they discuss the significance of emotional engagement and presence over mere provision. The participants discuss the importance of emotional availability, the role of play in father-son connections, and the challenges of coaching children. They also touch on the significance of mentorship, the impact of absentee fathers, and the modeling of behaviors such as risk-taking. The discussion highlights modern parenting challenges, including the influence of technology and social media on children, and concludes with reflections on the future of fatherhood and the importance of social connections.

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In this conversation, Rob and Charlie dive into the Marine Corps' strategic shifts towards small craft and rapid deployment, the importance of junior officers in military discourse, and the challenges of aerobic training for mountain athletes. Additionally, they share personal experiences in bear hunting and explore the integration of AI in athletic programming. The discussion concludes with insights into research innovations in strength training and the concept of minimum effective dose training.

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Interested in training with us at our facility in Ogden, UT? Email [email protected]

Catherine, a tactical strength coach with a diverse military background, shares her journey through various branches of the military, highlighting the differences in training approaches and the challenges of implementing effective strength conditioning programs.

She discusses the importance of understanding the unique needs of each branch, the role of data in shaping training, and the impact of wearable technology on fitness assessments.

Catherine emphasizes the need for a strong training culture within the Space Force and the importance of individual accountability in achieving fitness goals.

She reflects on her coaching philosophy, the significance of personal connections, and the future of tactical strength conditioning in the military.

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Interested in training with us at our facility in Ogden, UT? Email [email protected]

Rob and Charlie discuss various topics, including MTI's new gym in Ogden, to his experiences with the carnivore diet and insights on supplements. They also delve into a study on shooting performance in law enforcement, with insights surrounding law enforcement shooting proficiency, the application of stress in shooting training, and the difficulties faced by part-time SWAT teams. Rob and Charlie also discuss topics covered in the MTI Brief, including the housing crisis in affluent ski towns and measures taken locally to solve for it.