This week we have the honor to interview again Dr. Ron Dick, associate professor of sports marketing at Duquesne University in the school of business. Ron also worked for 20 years in sports, including 15 years in the NBA with the Sixers and the Nets, and then five years in the NCAA.

Watch the full video interview by clicking on the link below:

You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Ron located at the top of this blog post.

📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on the following topics:

* WNBA: Should WNBA players get paid more?

* NCAA basketball: Colin Gillespie

* NFL: Shedeur Sanders, is he NFL ready? Tom Brady’s statue with the Patriots.

* MLB: First female empire in the MLB.

* MLB has no salary cap.

* MLB. MLB teams standings

* NBA: KD trade, coaching trade (Mike brown to the NY Knicks..).

* NBA's team expansion in Europe.

* SEC Football Netflix documentary

Here are the best quotes from our interview with Ron:

1. WNBA – Should WNBA players get paid more?"You have to look at where the league is now compared to when it started in 1997. The value of teams is going up. Television ratings are going up. Ticket sales — especially with Caitlin Clark’s games — are going up. Parking, concessions, merchandise — all of it is trending upward. The revenue is there. The players are helping create that revenue, so it’s only fair that they share in it. They’ve already made progress — for example, they don’t fly commercial anymore; now they fly charter. That’s the same change the NBA made in the mid-80s. Other women’s leagues failed in the past because they didn’t have that foundation the WNBA had through the NBA — arenas, sales teams, sponsorship people. Now, with the growth we’re seeing, it’s time to pay these players more."

2. NCAA Basketball: Colin Gillespie"When you look at players like Colin Gillespie, he was on a two-way contract and made less than a million dollars last year, while two of his former Villanova teammates were making over a million dollars each to play just 30 games. I just don’t see how schools like Villanova or others in the Big East can sustain paying 12–15 players on a roster that kind of money. The television and ticket revenue just isn’t there, nor is the annual giving. I think we’re heading for a sort of dot-com bust moment where we’ll move backward a bit to reevaluate the money situation. The big conferences will be fine — the TV money will keep them afloat — but there will be growing pains and resentment within conferences like the ACC when certain teams get more exposure and more revenue than others."

3. NFL – Shedeur Sanders & Tom Brady’s statueOn Shedeur Sanders:"You’ve got to give credit where credit is due. He came in, had a couple of injuries in that quarterback room in Cleveland, and played better than a lot of people thought he would. They drafted a quarterback ahead of him, they had three veterans already in the room, but he proved he could play. Now, does one good performance make him Hall of Fame material? No. But it does earn him another opportunity. He still had some non-traditional, even bizarre, interviews before the draft that scared some teams away. But good for him, and good for his dad — if he plays well again in his next game, maybe he becomes the opening day starter. And for a franchise like Cleveland, which has had some of the worst luck with quarterbacks, finding a capable starter could be huge."

On Tom Brady’s statue:"How could he not get a statue? He absolutely deserves it. The bigger question is whether Bill Belichick will get one too. Right now, there are some bad feelings between Belichick and ownership, and it reminds me of situations like Jimmy Johnson with the Cowboys. It took decades before he was properly honored despite his Hall of Fame status. If you’re in the Hall of Fame, you should be on the wall of fame or have a statue. We’ll have to see how the Patriots ultimately handle Belichick’s legacy."

4. MLB – First female umpire"On August 9th, Jen Pawol became the first female to ever umpire a Major League Baseball game. She’s 48 years old, went to Hofstra, and is from West Milford, New Jersey. This prompted me to look at other sports — the NBA had Violet Palmer in 1997, the NFL had Sarah Thomas in 2015, who’s even officiated playoff games and a Super Bowl. The NHL, however, still has zero female referees. My prediction is that Kate Guay will be the first. She’s done Olympic games, went to Brown, and has worked a ton of AHL games. I think by 2025 or 2026 she’ll break that barrier. Honestly, I don’t know what the NHL is waiting for — it’s time to make that move."

5. MLB – No salary cap"For casual fans, enjoy the rest of 2025 and all of 2026, because in 2027 we’re heading toward a major work stoppage. The owners want a salary cap like the NFL, NBA, and NHL have. Right now there’s only a luxury tax — if you go over a certain payroll, you pay into a pool that’s supposed to be shared with smaller markets. But players want unlimited salaries and also a salary floor so small market teams have to spend up to, say, $100M–$125M on payroll. Many small market owners don’t want that floor. So both sides are entrenched, and it’s going to get ugly — whether it’s a strike from players or a lockout by owners."

6. MLB teams standings"Right now, the Brewers are white hot and have the best record in baseball. The Phillies are doing better than the struggling Mets. In the West, the Dodgers are two games ahead of the Padres. But the Yankees — who just won the World Series last year — are six and a half games back of Toronto, with Boston in between. In the Central, Detroit is up six games over Cleveland. And in the AL West, Houston and Seattle are battling it out. On the flip side, the Colorado Rockies are in real danger of having one of the worst records in MLB history — they’ve only got 30 wins at the 118-game mark. Hopefully they can at least get to 40 or 42."

7. NBA – KD trade, coaching changesOn KD to Houston:"Texas is attractive to players because there’s no state tax, and Florida has that same advantage. KD’s still playing at a high level despite his age and mileage. He’s had a Hall of Fame career, and moving to Houston could work out well for him if he’s surrounded by the right talent. I hope he has the supporting cast to make a run in the West."

On Mike Brown to the Knicks:"The NBA is a carousel for coaches — it’s constant movement. Mike Brown has plenty of head coaching experience, including success with LeBron in Cleveland. Personally, I would’ve stayed with Tom Thibodeau, but I’m biased because I worked with him in the Sixers organization. Still, Brown is experienced, and with that, you give him a shot."

8. NBA – Team expansion in Europe"Expansion is going to happen — I think it’s inevitable. I can see teams in Paris, London, maybe Berlin. Europe will be first, then Asia — possibly a team in China or Japan. It’s going to be a challenge logistically, but the NBA has the global brand and the financial incentive to make it work. Imagine the ticket sales and TV revenue from those markets. My prediction: Europe first, Asia second, within the next 5–10 years."

9. SEC Netflix documentary"The SEC is the closest thing to the NFL in terms of talent level and fan passion. Along with the Big Ten, it’s where most NFL players come from. The stadiums are sold out, the rivalries are intense, and for people who haven’t worked in college athletics, the scale might be eye-opening. The documentary gives that behind-the-scenes look fans love — just like NFL training camp series where you see players get cut or make the team. It even captures moments like Vanderbilt upsetting bigger programs, which is huge for those schools. And yes, Nick Saban once famously said the SEC was a war every week ‘except when you go to Vanderbilt’ — and he had to eat those words."

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Today we have the honor of interviewing Johnny Ferlito, CEO of MaXXX-Force, an innovative strength training device that takes performance enhancement to a whole new level.

MaXXX-Force enhances athletic performance to levels that can never otherwise be achieved. Unlike any other strength equipment in the industry, MaXXX-Force adaptive resistance provides athletes the ability to safely train at their maximum concentric, isometric, and most importantly eccentric load capacity curves within the same rep. This is simply not possible with any other machine in the market today.

This unparalleled and intense method of resistance maximizes athletes force outputs, explosive power, neuromuscular recruitment (Type II), muscle mass, flexibility and injury prevention. MaXXX-Force is raising the ceiling of athletic performance higher than ever before.

Here are some videos explaining how the MaXXX-Force machine works:

You can listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page,

📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on his background, his company and product, the benefits for teams to use his product. We also talked about the state of the resistance training market, his competitive advantage, and his plans for the next 12 months.

You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Johnny located at the top of this blog post.

Here are the best quotes from the interview with Johnny:

Q1. Tell me about your background

“I’m a former athlete—I played college football and then spent four years in arena football. So, for most of my life, everything revolved around training in one way or another—whether it was on-field drills, strength training, or recovery. Performance enhancement became a core passion. After I stopped playing, I became a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and launched my own athletic training company. I worked with athletes across all age groups to improve their speed, strength, and agility. Over time, I expanded to multiple locations and eventually transitioned the business into one of the first 7-on-7 football training programs in Illinois. My passion for both coaching and performance development is really what led me down the path to founding MaXXX-Force.”

Q2. How did you get the idea of launching MaXXX-Force?

“It started back in 2013. I came across a line of equipment that made a bold claim—it said it could deliver better results in a 15-minute workout than a typical two-hour free weight session. That instantly grabbed my attention as a strength coach and former athlete. I started using it and quickly realized the potential. It was like a ‘holy cow’ moment—I could see what it was trying to do. But the equipment had some major design limitations. You needed eight different machines to train your whole body, it had fixed planes of motion, the motors weren't strong enough, and it wasn’t customizable.

So I thought, ‘What if I built something better?’ That’s when I started developing my own proof of concept at the end of 2013. I took it to the NSCA conference in Louisville and the response was overwhelming—our booth was packed the whole time. Coaches were ready to buy it on the spot. That’s when I knew I had something real. From there, I hired engineering firms, went through countless prototypes, tested and refined the product for years. Fast forward to now, 10 years later, and we finally launched our production model in February. That’s how MaXXX-Force was born—from recognizing a need and deciding to go all in on solving it.”

Q3. Tell me about your company and where you are currently

“MaXXX-Force has come a long way since our early prototype days. We spent nearly a decade fine-tuning every detail—working with professional engineers, strength coaches, and athletes to make the most comprehensive, efficient, and effective strength training machine out there. We officially launched our production model at the 2024 HFA show, and we’ve already exhibited at major conferences like CSCCa. The machine is now live, and the feedback has been phenomenal. Teams are seeing how it can fit into their programs immediately—whether for strength gains, performance enhancement, or rehab. We’re at the beginning of a major push to get Max Force into elite programs, universities, training centers, and beyond.”

Q4. Tell me about your product

“MaXXX-Force is an adaptive resistance machine—meaning the resistance dynamically adjusts in real time throughout each phase of the exercise. Our muscles aren’t equally strong across a movement. Think about a squat—you’re stronger at the top and weakest at the bottom. You’re also stronger during the eccentric phase (lowering the weight) than the concentric phase (lifting it).

Traditional weights don’t account for that. You lift the same fixed load through the entire range. But with MaXXX-Force, the machine adjusts to your maximum output at each point—concentric, eccentric, and isometric. It reads your force production in real time and responds instantly. Athletes are training at their max capacity—safely—through every rep, every phase, every set. That means faster and more efficient gains, with less wear and tear.

We’ve built in software that creates individual athlete profiles, tracks their baseline performance, and prescribes personalized workouts. You can customize every variable—intensity, volume, tempo. It’s a fully integrated training ecosystem that’s built for performance, rehab, or general strength training.”

Q5. How is your product unique?

“What really sets MaXXX-Force apart is our ability to deliver true eccentric overload across the entire strength curve. Other machines say they do it, but we actually achieve it. Eccentric overload is when the load exceeds what you can handle concentrically, forcing the muscle to resist in a way that fires up every fiber—it's a huge driver of neuromuscular adaptation and growth.

Plus, with MaXXX-Force, athletes hit mechanical failure right from the first rep. They’re training under maximal stimulus for the entire set. That’s incredibly rare. Traditional lifting might give you one or two meaningful reps in a set—on our system, it’s 60–90 seconds of continuous, targeted stress on muscle and connective tissue.

And all of this happens with precision and safety. The system automatically protects the athlete by responding to their output, rather than forcing them to match an external weight. That’s game-changing.”

Q6. What gives you a competitive advantage?

“There are three big things. First, we offer true eccentric overload across the full range of motion. That alone puts us in a different class. Second, the training stimulus is constant and meaningful. Athletes aren’t just moving weight—they’re being pushed to their max safely, which drives faster gains in strength, power, and muscle mass.

Third—and this is huge—athletes can now train at max intensity year-round, even in-season. With free weights, coaches often have to scale back during the season to avoid injuries. MaXXX-Force eliminates that trade-off. It allows for intense, high-quality training with far less risk. Coaches can now keep athletes strong and resilient without worrying about overloading or tweaking something in the weight room. That’s why teams are so excited about it.”

Q7. What are the benefits for teams?

“Teams get more out of their athletes in less time. Period. MaXXX-Force helps them build strength, power, force output—all the things that translate to better performance on the field, court, or ice. And we do it safely, efficiently, and with data.

Coaches can track baselines, progress, and make adjustments in real time. Whether it’s for a football team trying to maintain power during the season or a basketball player coming back from an injury, MaXXX-Force adapts to their needs. It’s a one-stop system for performance and rehab. And because it works across sports—football, basketball, hockey, tennis, you name it—it’s truly universal.”

Q8. What is your take on the resistance training market?

“  I really believe the strength and conditioning world is evolving, like it always does, but this time with an even bigger focus on safety efficiency and just flat out better results in less time. we're in a digital age and we're seeing a huge shift towards smart feedback tools. Coaches now have access to deeper performance insights, not just rep sets and how how much weight they did, but real time data that shows how their athletes are actually moving and progressing. And one area that's really exploded is digital resistance. Isometrics and eccentric overload are finally getting the attention they deserve.

And for good reason. I mean, eccentric training is arguably the most important phase of strength development, but up until now, it hasn't been possible to train that phase properly or consistently. And due to MaXXX-Force that's now changing. It's all about training with intent, maximizing results in a way that's safe, measurable, and effective.

With MaXXX-Force, it's twofold. Athletes get the benefits of the adaptive resistance and max loading in all three contraction phases, but they also get that real time digital feedback and data that allows them to track and push their limits. Every single rep coaches can gauge effort now. Not just per workout, but literally second by second.

So there's no more guesswork and no more wasted reps. So we're seriously excited to be leading the charge with adaptive resistance technology. MaXXX-Force isn't just another tool. It really is a complete shift in how we train for performance. The future of strain training is about efficiency, data-driven and built to bring out the best in every athlete, and we're proud to be a part of that”.

Q9. What are your plans for the next 12 months?

“The goal is simple: get MaXXX-Force into as many elite performance and rehab programs as possible. We’ve spent nine years refining what we believe is the most versatile and effective strength machine in the world. Now we’re focused on expansion.

That means building relationships with college teams, pro organizations, private training facilities, sports medicine centers—even corporate wellness and gym chains. Long term, we may explore an in-home version, but for now, our focus is on high-performance environments. We’re just getting started, and the momentum is real.”

Q10. What is the best way to reach out to you?

“The best way is through our website: www.maxxxforce.com — and that’s with three Xs, MAXXFORCE.com. All our contact info, emails, and phone numbers are listed there. We also have an Instagram account: maxx.xforce (we had to add the dot because of the triple-X).

On the site, we’ve got a full video library that breaks down how the machine works across different user types—athletes, rehab patients, general fitness. Coaches can see the machine in action and understand exactly how it could plug into their program.  We can also be reached via email. Our email is [email protected]. That again, that's three Xs [email protected].”

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This week we have the honor to interview again a group of MLS sports performance executives to talk about the latest trends in the world of sports performance and rehabilitation.

* Michael Messer, the head of rehabilitation at Nashville SC (MLS).

* Darcy Norman, the Director of Performance at Chicago Fire FC (MLS).

* Karam Al-Hamdani, the Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer at the CF Montreal (MLS).

You can watch the video interview below by clicking on the Youtube link. You can also listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page:

Here are some of the best quotes of our conversation with Michael, Darcy, and Karam:

Q1. What’s one innovation or methodology in global football that MLS teams should adopt more aggressively?

Darcy Norman:

“The globalization of the game has really flattened the playing field—ideas, tech, and methodologies are traveling fast. But what concerns me is how we interpret and apply research. There’s this trend now where we latch onto headlines instead of engaging critically with the full body of work. For example, the idea that ACL recovery should take exactly nine months becomes gospel, even if the underlying study had a really small sample size or narrow scope. We end up chasing metrics or timelines that aren’t rooted in strong evidence. I think MLS teams—and really all of us—need to get better at being skeptical and intellectually curious, not just grabbing onto flashy data points. Let’s actually read the research, understand the methodology, and apply it within context. That’s something I saw more of in Europe, especially at Bayern and the German national team. The best environments are driven by informed decision-making, not just confirmation bias.”

Karam Al-Hamdani:

“One thing we’re still struggling with in North America is the rigidity around hiring international staff. You might have someone with incredible experience—say a world-class physio from Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga—but bringing them in is a massive legal and credentialing headache. Europe just doesn’t have that same bureaucracy. Their systems are more fluid, and that allows for cross-pollination of people, not just ideas. If MLS wants to grow and really become globally competitive, we have to be more open—not just to importing knowledge but to letting talent in the door. That’s how new philosophies, methodologies, and even rehab protocols spread and improve a team’s capacity to evolve.”

Michael Messer:

“One of the more interesting things I saw during my time in Europe was how clubs brought in PhD students or researchers from nearby universities and embedded them into their performance teams. These weren’t interns—they were conducting real-time research that was immediately applicable to training or recovery processes. There’s this fluid exchange between science and sport, and the players and staff both benefit from it. That kind of embedded academic collaboration is something I think MLS could really benefit from. Right now, we tend to see that more at the NCAA level in the U.S., but it’s rare at the pro level. If we want to stay ahead or at least keep pace, that’s an innovation we should push toward—bringing science into the locker room, not just referencing it from the outside.”

Q2. What recovery modalities have become non-negotiable for your squad this season, and what’s fallen out of favor?

Karam Al-Hamdani:

“Recovery days in Montréal have evolved into comprehensive, full-service experiences. We’re not just doing a quick flush or static stretch anymore. We’ve structured the day around delayed arrival times to allow more sleep, followed by a progression of yoga, Pilates, mobility sessions, and hands-on medical assessments. From there, players move into their individualized recovery blocks—cold immersion, pneumatic compression, and even upper body lifts to stimulate a hormonal recovery response. We’ve partnered with a local wellness provider for optional cryotherapy, red light therapy, and infrared sauna access. These modalities are no longer just nice to have—they’re embedded into our rhythm. The players understand the 'why' behind them, and that’s what makes them stick. What’s fallen out of favor for us are the gimmicky, unvalidated tools—if there’s no evidence and no consistent feedback from the athletes, we phase it out.”

Darcy Norman:

“I use a pyramid model to structure recovery planning. At the base: you need solid fundamentals—sleep, nutrition, and planning. Those are non-negotiable. Then we build in tools like compression, hydrotherapy, soft tissue work, lifting, and parasympathetic recovery methods. Once those are dialed in, we consider the '2-percenters'—things like infrared beds, hyperbarics, and advanced wearables. We’ve also brought in Fly Kit, a nutraceutical solution designed to help athletes regulate light exposure and circadian rhythms during travel. That’s been a game-changer for international trips and jet lag. But we’re always careful not to throw tech at problems without context. The real question is: what fills this player’s bucket? If cold tubs don’t work for them but manual therapy does—we adjust. Our job is to recharge each player’s battery in the most efficient and individualized way possible.”

One tool we’re testing is the Nix Biosensor, which tracks sweat rate and electrolyte loss in real time. That’s helped us fine-tune hydration protocols for different players. But ultimately, recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. It’s about consistency and getting player buy-in, not loading up the room with gadgets and assuming they’ll use them.”

Michael Messer:

“I think Darcy summed it up really well with the pyramid analogy. What I’ll add is that the base of the pyramid is where the most science exists—it’s the most proven to be effective. Our approach has been very centered around that foundation. This year, we've been more intentional about what the athletes are putting into their bodies—whether that’s hydration or food—on specific days of the week. That’s come from the staff growing and collaborating more closely with our coaching staff and director of high performance.

We’ve also adjusted training times depending on where we are in the week, which has helped. More recently, the big issue has been the heat. So we’ve been exploring any cooling strategies we can implement to reduce the negative effects and help the guys recover more effectively. We’ve spent a lot of this season doubling down on the foundation—sleep, hydration, and nutrition. With the heat being so brutal this year, we’ve had to customize our training and recovery windows to ensure players aren’t depleted.

Q3. Are you piloting any AI-driven tools, and how are they being received?

Darcy Norman:

“We’re currently testing a few different tools—vMotion, B1 Sports, and other AI-enhanced movement screening platforms. I also use AI personally to summarize workflows, clean up documentation, and improve efficiency. The catch is: if the system doesn’t fit seamlessly into existing processes, or if it demands a ton of time to validate the outputs, it’s just not practical. You also have to be careful about what data you feed into the system. AI doesn’t remove the need for critical thinking. If you input bad data, you’ll get bad recommendations, no matter how smart the algorithm is. So I still validate everything manually. Until we reach the point where the tech truly understands context, we have to act as the filter between raw data and decision-making.”

Karam Al-Hamdani:

“At the moment, I’d say AI hasn’t made a massive impact on how we work. Sure, there are a few tools we’ve looked at for administrative organization or wellness flagging, but I haven’t seen anything yet that gives us a decisive edge on the pitch. In a game of such fine margins, we need tools that elevate decision-making, not just data collection. Right now, a lot of what’s out there still feels like AI for the sake of AI. I’m not opposed to it—I just don’t think we’ve reached the point where it’s essential yet. Ask me again in five years and I might give you a completely different answer.”

Michael Messer:

“We’re using some AI-adjacent tech, particularly through our Valor system, which provides movement analysis and some automated load insights. It’s useful, but I’ll admit I still like to look at the raw numbers myself. Part of that is trust—if I don’t understand how the model is making its decisions, I hesitate to rely on it. I’ve joked that I need an ‘AI 101 for Coaches’ class, because I’m just not there yet. We’re still in the early adopter phase, and I’m very cautious about letting AI guide decisions without deep understanding. I’d rather have something simple and trustworthy than something that’s cutting-edge but unexplainable.”

Q4. With Apple TV and global exposure increasing, has there been more pressure to optimize performance for primetime matches or international audiences?

Darcy Norman:

“Honestly, compared to my experience in Europe, the schedule in MLS is still quite manageable. At Bayern, we were playing league matches, domestic cups, Champions League, and players had national team duty layered on top. That’s 50 to 60 matches a year—plus travel. In MLS, it’s 34 games in the regular season and the occasional cup. Most of our matches are at 7:30 p.m. local, which gives us a rhythm and allows for better planning. Where the stress hits is during FIFA windows. You might lose 5–6 players to international duty and still have to compete in the league. That’s where we feel the strain—not from broadcast demands, but from roster gaps and condensed fixtures.”

Karam Al-Hamdani:

“I wouldn’t say Apple TV or international exposure directly affects how we operate medically. The pressure is internal. It comes from wanting to do right by the players and the team. For me, it’s about ensuring a player is in the best possible condition to perform—regardless of whether it’s a primetime game or not. If a guy is 90% ready, and we have a national TV game, I’ll still advocate for him to wait if the risk is high. My north star is always the player’s long-term health and performance. External exposure doesn’t change that for me—it actually reinforces the need to be even more thorough.”

Michael Messer:

“I echo what Darcy and Karam said. No one’s knocking down our door saying, ‘You have to perform better because the game’s on Apple TV.’ That said, context matters. If we’re missing two starters because of international call-ups and another guy is coming off injury, we have to navigate those conversations carefully. Coaches want to know: can this guy go? Should he go 45 minutes or 90? The timing of the match—who’s watching, what’s at stake—absolutely influences those discussions, even if indirectly. And yeah, I might take a few extra minutes on match day to make sure I don’t look like a mess on the bench now that the cameras are everywhere!”

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This week we had the honor to interview a group of NCAA sports performance experts.

* Dr. John DeWitt, director of applied sports science in the athletic department and a faculty member, Rice University (NCAA team).

* Drew Lukes, Senior PT at Duke University and the head of sports science, Duke university’s women soccer team (NCAA team).

* Jordan Troester, PhD, Director of sports performance and sports science at the University of Oregon (UO), a top NCAA organization.

You can watch the video interview below by clicking on the Youtube link. You can also listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page:

Here are some of the best quotes of our conversation with them:

Q1. NIL Impact on Athlete Behavior, Stress, and Wellness Programming

Jordan Troester:

“We’re now about three years into the NIL era, and the shift has been significant. At first, the changes were cosmetic—you noticed the jewelry, the designer clothes, and the upgraded cars in the parking lot. But over time, it’s become much more than surface-level. Athletes are starting to see themselves as brands and entrepreneurs, and with that comes new expectations. They’re becoming more discerning about the resources available to them, both internally and externally. They now walk into our performance environment not just as students or athletes, but as business entities who might have a private trainer, an agent, or a sponsorship. This shift has pushed us to rethink our service delivery model. They’re no longer just recipients of care—they’re stakeholders who expect transparency, optionality, and personalized support. We’re moving into an era where athletes are curating their own development paths. That adds complexity, stress, and a need for better communication, not only with them but across all the support staff. The next 12 months will be critical in understanding what the future of NIL, revenue sharing, and collegiate athletic identity will look like.”

John DeWitt:

“To me, what NIL has done is fundamentally changed how athletes interact with institutional systems, especially in health and medical care. We’re already seeing situations where an athlete gets hurt at ‘State University’ and decides to get surgery at an outside facility, let’s say ‘Hospital B’. But then what happens with the rehabilitation? Does the hospital handle it, or is it now the responsibility of the university again? And what if that athlete transfers mid-rehab to another institution? These are very real challenges that blur the lines of responsibility and care. It used to be that we had a fairly linear system—injury, treatment, rehab, return. Now, that process may involve multiple external parties, and the decisions are influenced by business interests, personal branding goals, or private advisors. That changes how we deliver care and increases the administrative and logistical stress on staff. The ‘professionalization’ of collegiate athletes is creating a fragmented care model that we, quite frankly, are not yet equipped to manage efficiently. These are use cases we haven’t fully thought through, and many of us are learning and adapting in real time.”

Drew Lukes:

“What’s been most surprising for me is how NIL has completely changed the types of conversations I’m having with athletes during rehab. These are athletes in non-revenue sports—many of whom feel left out of the NIL conversation—and they’re starting to express frustration, disappointment, and even identity struggles as they see their peers benefiting financially while they feel overlooked. I’m a physical therapist. I didn’t go into this field expecting to talk about income equity or endorsement deals while rehabbing a hamstring injury. But that’s where we are. These issues are showing up in the training room, in casual conversations, and during care. And what’s tough is that I don’t always have the answers, but I still have to hold space for those feelings. It’s thrown us into uncharted territory where mental and emotional stress linked to economic disparities now directly impacts wellness and rehab outcomes. It’s clear that I—and many of us—need more education around NIL, not necessarily to negotiate deals, but to better support athletes through the emotional and logistical challenges that come with it.”

Q2. Strategies for Overuse and Non-Contact Injuries

Drew Lukes:

“I’m not sure we’ve truly nailed the basics yet. Things like sleep, nutrition, hydration, and self-care—those are still inconsistent. And until we can consistently execute those foundational habits across the board, I hesitate to jump into more complex load monitoring protocols. I’ve talked to coaching staffs about this: we can track sleep and prescribe load all we want, but if the athlete is eating once a day and sleeping five hours a night, that data loses its value. So from my point of view, at Duke, I’m still focused on helping us build a solid base before we start layering in more advanced tools.”

John DeWitt:

“At Rice, what’s evolved isn’t the data—it’s the awareness of the data. A few years ago, load monitoring was siloed. It might’ve been the responsibility of the strength coach, and that’s where it stayed. Now, I’m seeing coaches, athletic trainers, and nutritionists all asking questions about workload, fatigue, and readiness. They’re connecting dots. That’s been the biggest shift—not some breakthrough technology, but a cultural shift toward collaboration and shared responsibility. The information is more cross-functional, and that alone has made a huge impact. It’s also helped get buy-in for injury prevention strategies because now everyone sees how their area is impacted.”

Jordan Troester:

“We call it an ‘integrated high-performance team.’ It’s not a device or software that solves the injury problem—it’s getting everyone aligned on what athlete support should look like. That starts with a shared vision between the head coach, the strength staff, the athletic trainer, and the nutritionist. It even goes as far as the equipment manager and academic advisors. Are we scheduling in recovery time? Are 7 a.m. practices disrupting sleep cycles? Is the training load aligned with where we are in the competition calendar? None of that takes new tech—it takes intention, planning, and honest conversations. And no, we’re never fully there. It’s a process, but the commitment to that process is what’s most important.”

Q3. Standardizing Care Amid Private Trainers and Nutritionists

Jordan Troester:

“What’s new now is that athletes have money, and that creates new behaviors. This summer, during our football team’s off-season, we’ve had a number of players flying out of town on the weekends. Some are just vacationing, but others are meeting with private skill coaches or personal trainers. They’ll say, ‘Yeah, I’m getting some work in while I’m in L.A.’ That’s something we didn’t account for in our training load. And it’s not just the workouts—it’s the travel stress, sleep disruption, and unknown variables. They’re adding training volume that we don’t always have visibility into, and it changes how we plan our weeks. It’s not at the level yet where we’re syncing calendars with every athlete’s private coach, but it’s definitely a variable we need to be more aware of.”

Drew Lukes:

“At Duke, especially with our Olympic sports athletes, I’m seeing more families seek second and third opinions. And that’s not always a bad thing. It creates learning opportunities, and in some cases, it challenges us to be better. But it also requires humility. I have to put ego aside, get the discharge notes or post-op protocol from the outside provider, and re-integrate that athlete into our care plan. It’s no longer a linear rehab process. There are more cooks in the kitchen, and while that’s manageable, it’s also a new reality that forces us to stay nimble.”

John DeWitt:

“Having worked in the NBA, I’m used to this kind of care model. Pro athletes have teams of people working on their behalf—strength coaches, massage therapists, dietitians—and communication between parties is essential. At the college level, it’s newer, and the infrastructure isn’t quite there yet to support that kind of external collaboration. But it’s coming. And the challenge is that every case is different, so you can’t create a blanket policy. You need principles and a case-by-case mindset.”

Q4. Mental Health and Athlete Identity Beyond Sport

John DeWitt:

“Rice University recently hired an Associate AD to oversee mental health, and that’s largely in response to NCAA mandates. It’s a good step forward, but one person can’t meaningfully serve 400+ athletes. So in many ways, the role is more about coordination and system building than direct service. Beyond that, my wife—who is a psychiatrist—started a sports psychiatry program at UT’s McGovern Medical School because she saw a major gap in this space. People hear ‘mental health’ and think about sleep, mindfulness, and stress. But we’re also talking about depression, anxiety, PTSD—clinical issues that deeply affect performance. That layer is often overlooked in favor of wellness strategies. We need to shift our mindset to include clinical care as a pillar of performance, not just recovery.”

Drew Lukes:

“As a practitioner working directly with athletes on a daily basis, I’ve come to realize that supporting mental health isn’t just a part of my job—it’s inescapable. Whether you’re in the middle of a rehab session or a casual check-in, these conversations just happen. Athletes are under more pressure than ever, and many of them don’t even realize how that pressure is affecting them until it manifests physically or emotionally. I’ve had to become much more comfortable having these conversations, even though I’m not a licensed psychologist. I try to listen, validate, and then guide them to the right resources when I can. We’re definitely making strides at Duke—there are more formal mental health resources available, but there’s still a gap, especially for our non-revenue sports athletes. It’s something we’re learning to navigate together. We’re not just rehabbing injuries anymore—we’re helping athletes manage the weight of expectations, identity struggles, and future uncertainties.”

Jordan Troester:

“We’ve tried to be more intentional about how we build connection and psychological safety into the environment. It’s not just about having access to a counselor—it’s about making mental health part of our culture, not an add-on. That means adjusting training schedules to account for academic stress, communicating better with athletes about expectations, and watching for red flags during recovery. We’re also leaning more into our integrated high-performance model where everyone on staff—not just the mental health professionals—is responsible for supporting the athlete’s whole self. Athletes spend more time with performance coaches, athletic trainers, and PTs than they do with any psychologist. So if we’re not equipped to spot signs of burnout, disconnection, or distress, we’re missing opportunities. In my view, mental health is no longer a separate pillar—it has to be woven into everything we do.”

Q5. NIL Resource Gaps and Competitive Readiness

Jordan Troester:

“The performance gap between resource-rich and resource-limited schools is real. But what I find fascinating is how this forces strategic thinking. You can’t compete in everything, so where are you going to invest? At Oregon, we pour into football and basketball. But that means other programs—like women’s soccer—don’t face the same resource gaps relative to their competition. If a mid-major school says, ‘Let’s dominate in softball or women’s volleyball,’ that might be their ticket to relevance. It’s not just about revenue anymore—it’s about brand building and differentiation. Athletics is still the front porch of the university, and with higher ed facing a marketing crisis, schools need to think hard about where they invest for visibility and impact.”

John DeWitt:

“From my perspective, NIL hasn’t changed how I treat athletes. Whether it’s an NFL-bound wide receiver or the last athlete on the tennis team, I provide the same care and attention. But I understand that for the broader athletic department, there are resource allocation decisions that have to be made. That’s where the performance gap shows up—in budgets and priorities—not necessarily in the day-to-day care we provide.”

Drew Lukes:

“I don’t have a whole lot to add beyond what Jordan shared, but I will say I’d never really thought about it the way he framed it—and I found that perspective fascinating. The idea that mid-majors or smaller schools might strategically invest in emerging or non-revenue sports like women’s soccer or ultimate frisbee to carve out a competitive niche… that’s a really compelling way to reimagine what success looks like in the NIL era. I think it’ll be really fun to watch over the next few years to see how different schools respond—whether they double down on traditional revenue sports or explore alternate paths that better align with their institutional identity and resources.”

Q6. Timeframe for Tech Adoption

Jordan Troester:

“There are levels to tech adoption. The first phase—where staff know how to use it—can happen in a month or two. But full integration, where it’s central to our workflow and decision-making, takes a year minimum. For a new tool to truly shape our processes, everyone—from the coaches to the athletic trainers—needs to understand the ‘why’ behind it. What problem is it solving? What decisions will it impact? That cultural buy-in takes time.”

Drew Lukes:

“It varies. If it’s a simple tool—like a hydration tester that doesn’t upload data to the cloud—we can get it up and running in a month. But if it requires IT security approval, legal vetting, and broad implementation, it can easily take six months or more.”

John DeWitt:

“I put together a one-page game day report showing hydration and force plate data for one of our teams. Two weeks later, when I didn’t send it, the coach asked where it was. That’s quick adoption—but it only happened because I had spent a year building trust and showing value. Implementation speed isn’t just about the tool—it’s about relationships, trust, and timing.”

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Today we have the honor of interviewing a group of MLB practitioners that are experts in mental performance and preparation.

* Lindsay Shaw, Director of Sport psychology for the Guardians, an MLB team.

* Zach Brandon, Head of Mental Performance and Coach Development, for the Arizona Diamondbacks, an MLB team.

* Len Zaichkowsky, PhD, retired Professor from the Boston University, World-class’ sports biofeedback expert.

* Josh Kozuch, Mental Performance Coach for the Baltimore Orioles, an MLB team.

You can watch the video interview below by clicking on the Youtube link. You can also listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page:

In this interview we discussed the following topics:

* Misconceptions & rewarding aspects of the job as mental coach.

* Leveraging failure as a growth tool in the MLB.

* The minor league gauntlet

* The pressure and MLB culture

* The stigma around mental health

You can also read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Lindsay, Zach, Len, and Josh located at the top of this blog post.

Here are the quotes from the interview with Lindsay, Josh, Len and Zach:

Q1 – Misconceptions & Rewarding Aspects of the Job

Lindsay Shaw

“When I first started, I was understandably intimidated. Working at the Olympic Committee, surrounded by some of the best athletes in the world, I thought, ‘What do I know?’ I was a Division I athlete, but this felt like a whole different universe. Over time, though, I realized I did have expertise—deep, meaningful experience in psychology, supported by mentors like Len Zaichkowsky and years of applied practice. What changed for me wasn’t just confidence; it was the realization that these elite athletes often lack development in basic areas like relationships, identity outside sport, and emotional regulation. They’re hyper-specialized in their craft, but often underdeveloped in life skills. Helping them explore those parts of themselves—joining them on that journey—is a privilege I never take for granted. That’s the most consistently rewarding aspect of this job: building trust, helping people become more whole, not just better players.”

Josh Kozuch

“Coming out of grad school, I expected players to be closed off to mental performance. That belief came from my own playing experience—college baseball in an environment where mental skills were never talked about. I had this insecurity too: ‘I didn’t play pro ball—what right do I have to tell these guys anything?’ But I quickly learned that most of the resistance I imagined was just that—imagined. Once players saw who I was and how I approached the work, they opened up. And the most rewarding moments are the unexpected ones—when a guy texts you years later to say, ‘Hey, remember that conversation we had in 2021?’ Sometimes I don’t even remember the exchange, but they do. It meant something. That’s incredibly fulfilling.”

Zach Brandon

“One of the biggest shifts for me was the realization that I didn’t need to be the star of the show. Early on, I thought I had to deliver the insights myself—player by player, one-on-one. Over time, I saw that working through coaches could be just as powerful, sometimes even more so. Coaches are present every day. They live in the clubhouse, on the field, in the cages. They’re the ones reinforcing mindset every single moment. My role became more about empowering them—giving them the tools and confidence to have those conversations themselves. That’s how we amplify our impact. I use a basketball metaphor a lot: I don’t need to score all the points. I’m happy to be the one dishing assists so others can lead. But when the moment demands it—when it’s my time to take the shot—I’m ready. That shift in perspective changed everything.”

Len Zaichkowsky

“When I entered this field over 50 years ago, my biggest misconception was assuming elite athletes already knew how to train their minds. I expected them to be well-versed in mental skills. But they weren’t—and many still aren’t. For decades, physical preparation dominated. We’d measure VO2 max, power, speed—but cognitive development? That was ignored. It’s only in the last several years that I’ve seen a real pivot toward the cognitive domain. And I agree with what the others said—the best thing we can do now is teach the teachers. Working with coaches gives you exponential impact. They’ve got the experience, the credibility, and the presence. When they’re empowered to reinforce mental performance daily, that’s when culture truly shifts.”

Q2 – Leveraging Failure as a Growth Tool

Zach Brandon

“Failure is inevitable in baseball. What separates those who grow from it versus those who crumble often comes down to two things: expectations and explanations. Before the failure occurs, what are your expectations? Do you believe the path will be linear? That your hard work will always be rewarded? If so, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Then, after failure hits, how do you explain it to yourself? Do you view it as evidence that you’re broken, or as a temporary obstacle? I love Derek Jeter’s line—‘Failure should be a speed bump, not a roadblock.’ We use that metaphor with players. And when you unpack failure like that—before, during, and after—you help athletes reframe setbacks into learning. It’s not about avoiding failure. It’s about mastering the way you respond to it.”

Lindsay Shaw

“Failure in baseball comes in so many forms—bad at-bats, not getting called up, season-ending injuries. But athletes often internalize those moments as indictments on their character. They feel shame, they avoid the topic, and they spiral. Our job is to help them see the full story. Sometimes you did everything right and the batter still crushed your best pitch. That’s not failure—that’s reality. And the best performers? They accept that. They don’t dwell. They reset. Those who struggle are often high in neuroticism—they ruminate, they overthink, they lose trust in themselves. We help them interrupt that cycle and rewrite the narrative. It’s a skill. It can be taught. And it changes careers.”

Josh Kozuch

“We try to give players back their sense of control. Failure will happen. It’s built into the game. But you always have a choice in how you respond. You gave up a home run—what’s your next pitch? You didn’t get called up—what are you doing about it? I also make sure players don’t only hear from us when they’re struggling. If the mental coach only shows up during a slump, you become the grim reaper. Instead, we talk during the good times too. What’s working? What are you doing when you’re thriving? That way, when failure comes, you have reference points—and a relationship—that helps you bounce back.”

Len Zaichkowsky

“The long arc of baseball is built on failure. Some of the best players in the league were stuck in the minors for years. But we forget that. I try to bring in real examples—guys who had terrible starts, got written off, then figured it out. When you show players those stories, you normalize the struggle and help them stay the course.”

Q4 – The Minor League Gauntlet

Josh Kozuch

“What people don’t realize is that these guys aren’t just baseball players—they’re growing into adulthood under extreme stress. They’re figuring out relationships, some are starting families, and they’re doing it while living out of suitcases, earning modest wages, and facing constant performance pressure. Most don’t have role models for this journey. That’s why bringing in veteran players to talk with the younger guys is so valuable. When a minor leaguer hears a big leaguer say, ‘I struggled too,’ it reframes their experience. It tells them they’re not alone—and that they can get through it too.”

Len Zaichkowsky

“The best thing I tell guys moving from the minors to the majors is simple: it’s still baseball. Yes, the pitches are faster, the pressure is higher—but the fundamentals haven’t changed. Play it like you did when you were a kid. When you lose that sense of joy and freedom, that’s when you get tight. Keep it simple. Enjoy the game.”

Zach Brandon

“One of the unique challenges of the minor league journey is that it’s not just about baseball—it’s about building a life under constant uncertainty. These are young men navigating adult responsibilities—some are getting married, starting families, dealing with real life—while also chasing an incredibly difficult dream. And what makes it even harder is that most of them don’t come from a background where they’ve seen this path modeled. They may be the first in their families, or even in their communities, to go through this kind of professional pressure. That isolation can weigh heavily.

One strategy I’ve seen work well is having veteran big leaguers talk to minor league players—especially in spring training. It helps normalize the struggles and challenges of the journey. These veterans say, ‘Hey, I went through it too. Here’s what helped me get through those long bus rides, the roster cuts, the not-knowing.’ When younger players hear that from someone who’s made it, it gives them hope, perspective, and a stronger sense of belonging. That human connection—that reminder that you’re not alone—is incredibly powerful in sustaining mental health and resilience through the grind.”

Lindsay Shaw

“Zach’s point is spot on—these players are trying to grow into the best versions of themselves on the field while simultaneously figuring out who they are off it. And the structure of professional baseball doesn’t always make that easy.

From a psychological standpoint, this period can be incredibly destabilizing. You’ve got players who dominated in college or high school suddenly facing daily reminders that they’re not guaranteed anything. Add to that the nomadic lifestyle, the inconsistent feedback, and the constant evaluation, and you have a recipe for identity stress.

What I try to do is re-center them in the ‘why’—why they started playing, what brings them joy in the game, and who they want to become, not just as players but as people. And then I help them build habits and emotional skills to manage those inevitable ups and downs. It’s not just about surviving the minor leagues. It’s about growing through them. That mindset shift—from ‘How do I make it?’ to ‘How do I grow while I’m here?’—can be transformative.”

Q5 – Pressure and MLB Culture

Lindsay Shaw

“The same mindset that gets players to the top can also tear them apart. Many develop a harsh inner voice—hypercritical, demanding, intolerant of anything less than perfection. That may work in the short term, but over time it erodes joy, damages relationships, and leads to burnout. What’s tragic is that many don’t even realize it’s happening—they just think they’re doing what it takes. Our work is helping them develop a healthier inner relationship. You can be elite and kind to yourself. You can strive without self-destruction.”

Josh Kozuch

“Baseball has made progress. Organizations now have full mental performance departments—not just one person trying to cover everything. We’re seeing the system start to evolve. It’s not perfect, but there’s more support now than there was a decade ago. And that’s making a difference.”

Zach Brandon

“I’ll speak more to the baseball system itself, rather than individual psychology. I think professional baseball has made meaningful progress in the last several years—especially when it comes to recognizing that mental performance and mental health support need to be built into the infrastructure, not added on as afterthoughts.

In the past, a single mental coach might have been asked to cover an entire organization—that’s hundreds of players across multiple levels, spread across the country or even the world. That model was never sustainable. What we’re seeing now is that more and more teams are building out true departments—not just mental skills coaches, but licensed clinicians, player care coordinators, and performance psychologists working together.

There’s still plenty of work to be done, but this shift represents a real acknowledgment that elite performance and long-term well-being are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they support each other. I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing, especially from organizations that are truly investing in this space—not just with personnel, but with time, leadership buy-in, and cultural integration. I’m excited to see where that momentum takes us.”

Dr. Len Zaichkowsky

“I think Lindsay articulated it perfectly—there is often a psychological toll that comes with the pursuit of greatness. Across every sport I’ve worked in—from hockey to baseball to Olympic disciplines—the pattern is the same. Athletes become elite because they drive themselves relentlessly, but over time, that drive can morph into self-punishment, emotional isolation, or even burnout.

What we’re starting to understand better—and what I think baseball is beginning to acknowledge—is that resilience and sustainability come from working with the whole person, not just the performer. As I’ve said before, this shift from focusing solely on physical attributes to valuing cognitive and emotional training is long overdue. But it’s coming. And when it does, I think we’ll see not just better performance—but longer, healthier careers and more fulfilled people at the end of them.”

Q6 – Stigma Around Mental Health

Lindsay Shaw

“A decade ago, talking to a psychologist in baseball was taboo. Now, many players have already worked with mental health professionals before they even get drafted. It’s becoming normal. They’re not coming in because they’re broken—they’re coming in because they want to grow. That shift is huge. But stigma still exists in some corners. Some players say, ‘My family told me never to do this.’ So we meet them where they are. We normalize the conversation, make it part of performance. Because that’s what it is.”

Len Zaichkowsky

“The turning point was when elite athletes started speaking out—Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles. That gave permission for everyone else. When players see that the best in the world struggle too, it lowers the barrier. It makes it okay to talk about what they’re going through.”

Zach Brandon

“The most powerful thing we do is leverage internal advocates. There’s always one guy in the clubhouse who’s respected and open about mental work. If he talks, others listen. And sometimes, that one conversation changes everything. Culture shifts from the inside out.”

Josh Kozuch

“There’s been a really positive shift in the last few years—more and more players are coming into pro baseball having already worked with mental performance coaches or psychologists. So the stigma isn’t what it used to be, at least not across the board. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone entirely. There are still guys, especially veterans or players from more traditional baseball backgrounds, who carry that mindset that talking to someone means something is ‘wrong’ with you.

That’s why one of the best tools we have is internal advocacy. When someone respected in the clubhouse opens up about using mental tools, others pay attention. You can leverage those voices—whether it’s a veteran player, a coach, or even a younger guy who’s found success—to shift the narrative. It’s one thing for me to say, ‘This stuff works.’ It’s another when a teammate says, ‘Hey, this helped me bounce back after a slump.’

You also have to be intentional about when and how you show up. If you’re only ever talking to guys when they’re struggling, you become the person associated with failure. So I make sure to connect with players when they’re succeeding too. We talk about what’s going well, what mental habits are helping them thrive. That way, when adversity comes—and it always does—they already see you as part of their support system, not a crisis-only resource.

In the end, it’s about relationships. The more trust you build, the more open players become. That’s how we chip away at the stigma—one connection at a time.”

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This week we had the honor to interview Athanase Kollias, CEO of KINVENT, a company that helps sports and rehab professionals assess progress and build engagement and motivation.

Founded in 2017, KINVENT is a leading player in the fields of physical rehabilitation and sports biomechanics producing innovative measuring and training devices for the facilitation of every day and athletic movements. Of note, Raphaël Varane, who is a defender on the French national soccer team, 2018 World Cup Champion, and current Manchester United player, is one of their investors.

Here is the video interview with Athan Kollias. You can also listen to the audio interview located at the top of this page.

Kinvent offers a comprehensive solution combining an intuitive app, KINVENT PHYSIO, with a range of connected sensors, measuring strength, balance and range of motion of athletes. KINVENT solution helps fasten teams’ rehab process, and assess athletes in one minute. What is also unique about the KINVENT PHYSIO app is that it can understand the baseline of each individuals and uses data from 600,000 patients globally to compare individual data against similar demographics.

Pictures: KINVENT 11 sensors in 1 ecosystem

The display of the data recorded by the device sensors is transcribed by the KINVENT PHYSIO App, installed on any iOS or Android terminal. All sensors are capable to assess powerful muscular groups and record in real time, giving an instant biofeedback data on the app.

Picture: KINVENT products in action

Here are some pictures of the KINVENT mobile app and dashboard:

Picture: KINVENT mobile app and dashboard

Here is a video showcasing KINVENT products:

Here is a video showcasing KINVENT’s 3D Force plates, which are 3 Dimensional force plates combined with MOCAP bringing lab-level precision directly to the field. Unlike traditional force plates that only capture vertical force, 3D Deltas measure movement in all directions, providing a complete picture of an athlete’s or patient’s biomechanics. By combining 3D force plate technology with motion capture, it allows for real-time insights into (1) Change of direction efficiency, (2) Lateral movement & performance metrics (3) Injury risk assessment & rehab progress and (4) Sport-specific movement analysis.

Here is a video showcasing KINVENT’s K Power, an innovative hybrid sensor that combines IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) and UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology to deliver wireless and highly precise measurements of speed, distance, acceleration, and power in sports and rehabilitation settings.

KINVENT has developed advanced sensors and an application used by over 22,000 professionals across more than 75 countries. KINVENT has also built the world’s biggest database of grip assessments as they have collected between 50,000 and 70,000 grip assessments. As shown in the picture below, many other elite teams such as PSG, the Brazilian national soccer team, the French national soccer team, SD Padres (MLB), Houston Dynamo (MLS), Houston Texas (NFL), UFC, INSEP, just to name a few, are using their product today.

KINVENT products are also used by leading healthcare organizations and universities such as Mayo Clinic, HSS, Brooks Rehabilitation, Aspetar, Princeton University, just to name a few.

📝Show Notes: Through this interview with Athanase Kollias, we touched on his 2 latest products the 3D Deltas and K-Power. We also discussed how Kinvent approached product development differently with these new launches. We also touched on their plans for the next 12 months as well as how they intent to stay ahead of the curve in the sports performance tech market.

Best Quotes: Here’s some of the key discussion points and best quotes from our conversation with Athanase:

Q1. Let’s start with the Kinvent 3D Deltas — what’s unique about this product, and how do you see it impacting both rehab and performance workflows in elite sports environments?

“Until today, the vast majority of force plates on the market only measured the vertical component of force — which is useful, but not enough. As humans, we don’t just move vertically. In sports and life, we move multidirectionally. We sprint, cut, pivot, change direction. Most of our motion is horizontal, yet most tools have ignored that. That’s a major gap.”

“That’s why we developed the 3D Deltas. They allow us to capture movement across all three axes — X, Y, and Z — so we’re no longer limited to a two-dimensional understanding of human movement. And this isn't just a product for us — it's a legacy. It started as a dream my father, a biomechanist, had 30 years ago. He knew from his own work that athletes weren’t getting injured in controlled, vertical-only motions like countermovement jumps. Injuries and performance limitations usually show up during lateral cuts, sudden accelerations, or when changing direction under load. So we set out to build a system that could finally reflect the full nuance of real-world movement — and we paired it with Cassandra, our AI engine and motion capture system, to give a complete picture of what’s really happening on the field or in rehab.”

Q2. K-Power is your newest innovation — can you walk us through its core functionality and how it complements or integrates with your existing Kinvent ecosystem?

“K-Power is what I would call a hybrid performance and rehab tool. It’s designed to work both with barbell-based strength training and sprint-based movement analysis. It’s a small pod, lightweight and wireless, that tracks speed, acceleration, distance, and power — in both horizontal and vertical directions. For example, coaches can place it on a bar to measure velocity-based training during a bench press, or set it up behind a sprinter on a tripod to capture force-velocity profiles over 5m, 10m, or 40-yard sprints.”

“The goal with K-Power — as with all our new tools — is to give strength coaches and athletic trainers precise, usable data in real-world environments. That means on the turf, in the weight room, wherever they’re working. And unlike traditional cable systems, there’s no hardware tethering. It’s not just another IMU or barbell tracker — it’s engineered for accuracy and ease of use. We see K-Power as a perfect complement to the 3D Deltas and the rest of our ecosystem, allowing a continuous flow of insights from high-intensity field testing to rehab benchmarking to return-to-play programming.”

Q3. Kinvent has always positioned itself at the intersection of science and usability — how are you approaching product development differently with these new launches?

“That’s something we think about constantly. Historically, performance and rehab tools have either been too scientific — meaning they’re confined to research labs with PhDs interpreting results weeks later — or too simplistic to provide actionable value. We’re trying to bridge that gap. Our approach now is to make the data not only accurate and rigorous but also understandable and relevant for both the practitioner and the athlete.”

“AI plays a big role in that. We’ve been investing in AI for over four years, but we’ve recently accelerated our efforts. Cassandra, our AI engine, is designed to help users quickly extract insights — from identifying the weak link in a movement pattern to recommending next steps. But here’s the key: we don’t just want to say ‘you jumped 40 cm’ or ‘your sprint time improved by 0.2 seconds.’ We want the athlete to understand what that means. Am I improving? Am I at risk of injury? What should I do next? That’s where AI, motion capture, and our new products converge — to make science not just usable, but actionable.”

Q4. What does Kinvent’s AI roadmap look like in the future?

“We’ve already built our AI engine — it’s called Cassandra. Right now, Cassandra helps summarize data, identify weak links in movement patterns, and support motion capture analysis. It also plays a role in assisting practitioners with designing training programs. But that’s just the beginning.”

“Over time, Cassandra will become more capable — that’s part of our internal roadmap. We’re continuously feeding it more and better-quality data to improve its accuracy and usability. But because we’re a medical device company, we have to be very careful. AI can sometimes produce results that don’t make sense, so regulatory compliance and reliability are essential.”

“Eventually, we see Cassandra offering not just analysis, but actionable guidance — things like when a player is ready to return to play, what adjustments are needed in their rehab or training, or even early indicators of potential injury risk. But again, the key is building that on a solid foundation of clean, contextualized, high-quality data.”

Q5. Looking ahead to the next 12 months, what are your strategic priorities — whether that’s product development, market expansion, new partnerships, or deeper integration with pro teams and clinics?

“Without question, the U.S. market is our top strategic priority. We’ve built a strong base in Europe, but North America is the next big frontier for us — and we’re going all in. Our focus is on penetrating colleges, universities, hospitals, and clinics, and to do that, we’re building out a full U.S. team — sales, marketing, customer success, everything.”

“On the product side, our priority is AI integration. Cassandra is already helping practitioners summarize sessions, identify weaknesses, and assist with programming. But we want to go further — to deliver real-time decision support and eventually predictive insights. At the same time, we’re mindful that we’re a regulated medical device company, so we’re moving responsibly. AI can be powerful, but it can also go off the rails if not trained and validated properly. That’s why we’re investing heavily in data quality — clean, validated, contextual data — so our AI remains trustworthy and compliant.”

Q6. As sports performance and rehab become more data-driven, how is Kinvent leveraging trends like AI, cloud analytics, or remote monitoring to stay ahead of the curve?

“First, I’d say this: there aren’t enough of us. There are maybe four or five companies worldwide doing serious work at the intersection of sports science, technology, and rehabilitation. That’s not enough. We need more innovation, more competition — it’s the only way we move the field forward and educate the broader market.”

“Second, we believe that staying ahead means mastering the full stack: hardware, software, cloud infrastructure, data science, and AI. We control that entire value chain internally, across teams in France, Greece, and the U.S. That’s what allows us to move fast, adapt, and innovate with precision. We don’t outsource key technologies — we build them in-house.”

“With Cassandra, we’re building not just an AI that summarizes or visualizes, but one that interprets and guides. We’re developing insights that are field-relevant — that help determine when to ramp up load, when to hold back, when to return to play. But AI won’t do that alone — it needs rich, high-quality data. That’s why all our tools — the 3D Deltas, K-Power, our dynamometers — are designed to feed Cassandra with the kind of contextual, meaningful data it needs to deliver real value. We’re not just chasing buzzwords — we’re building the future of intelligent, athlete-centered rehab and performance.”

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Dear colleague,This week I sat down with David Daoud, CEO of Compliance Standards to share my thoughts on on how elite teams vet sports tech startups, on the common mistakes made by startups. We also discussed the world of elite sports which is based on relationships. We also touched on the tech budget side of teams, and the need to get internal champions to successfully do pilots with teams. We also touched on what makes a strong founder in the eyes of teams.

You can listen to the audio interview by clicking on the above button or just watch the full video interview by clicking on the Youtube video below. You can also check out the best quotes of the interview in the section below.

📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on:

* On how teams usually vet startups

* On why the Sports tech market feels saturated

* On what teams actually look for

* On the reality behind the “10,000 Sports tech startups” number

* On how small the buyer side really is

* On the importance of trust, tools, and vetting

* On traction vs. innovation

* On how Startups can stand out and win

* On athlete investors and their role in startups

* On startup intent and founder mentality

Best,

You can read the full transcript of the interview located at the top of this blog post. Here are below the best quotes from the interview:

💡 On How Teams Usually Vet Startups

“It really depends on the team. Some teams have internal people — like a head of tech or innovation — who are tasked with scouting and vetting vendors. Others rely more on external support, like what we do at Upside. In general, the performance and medical staff are stretched thin. They’re in the weight room, the rehab room, traveling with players — they don’t have time to research 20 vendors. That’s why they appreciate platforms like ours that simplify comparisons — pricing, specs, scientific evidence, customer base — all in one place.”

“Some teams are excited by new technology and want to see everything. Others are cautious — they won’t even take a meeting unless there’s peer-reviewed research or published studies. I know teams that won’t touch a product unless it’s already been validated by someone they trust or a leading academic institution. It’s all about risk management.”

“Also, some teams are open to working with early-stage startups — even giving feedback, co-developing features, or doing small pilot studies. But many others just want to buy a commercialized product that’s ready to go off the shelf. They don’t want to spend months helping a company refine a prototype. That’s the reality — not all teams are willing to be a test case.”

“And finally, teams talk to each other. Word of mouth is huge. If one high-performance director had a bad experience with a vendor, that spreads quickly. So as a startup, your credibility, transparency, and how you handle relationships matters just as much as your tech.”

💡 On Why the Sports Tech Market Feels Saturated

“I think what’s really driving the boom is that people just love sports. That’s the core of it. You’ve got so many engineers, former athletes, and founders who are fans first and entrepreneurs second — and they want to work with teams. So they start something. But here’s the catch: there are now over 10,000 sports tech companies worldwide, and a large portion of them are just one or two people — with a single product, often no funding, and sometimes no customers at all. They might be bootstrapping it, building prototypes on their own dime. And when they try to get in front of elite teams? It’s tough. It’s really hard to break in. You’ve got to hit a home run right away — if you don’t show up with a solid product, a clear value proposition, and something that immediately resonates with that team’s needs, you probably won’t get a second meeting. The market might look big, but when you actually try to sell into it, it’s a tight funnel — and the bar is very high.”

🧠 On What Teams Actually Look For

“It’s not necessarily a red flag if a company only has one product — that’s not the issue. What matters is whether the product is good. Does it do what it’s supposed to do? Is it backed by peer-reviewed research? Is there solid validation? And most importantly — do you have teams using it today and seeing results? For example, I interviewed a company like Output Sports. They’ve got one sensor, but it’s connected to a software platform that’s constantly being updated, providing more insights and new algorithms over time. Teams are fine with that. They don’t need you to have ten SKUs. They want confidence that the product works and the data is trustworthy. If that’s there, you’re in the conversation.”

⚖️ On the Reality Behind the “10,000 Sports Tech Startups” Number

“Look, I’ve been in this space for over a decade. And it’s true — there are now 10,000 companies that call themselves sports tech startups. But I would argue that a huge portion of those are not truly scalable businesses. Some of them are husband-and-wife teams building something on weekends. Some are what I call lifestyle startups — the founder is using the startup to travel, attend conferences, meet cool people. There’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s not the same as building a company that can scale globally. What I’m looking for — and what elite teams care about — is: do you have a real business model? Are you raising capital? Do you have case studies and traction? If not, you’re just part of the noise, not part of the future.”

🏢 On How Small the Buyer Side Really Is

“People assume that because they’re selling to a famous club — the Lakers, the Patriots, FC Barcelona — that there must be these huge departments making decisions. That’s not the case. These are small teams. In the performance department, you might have five to fifteen people — that’s it. You’ve got your head of performance, a couple trainers, a physical therapist, maybe a dietitian or nutritionist, sometimes an in-house developer or data analyst, but not always. So as a vendor, you’re not selling into IBM — you’re selling into a really lean, hands-on, time-strapped unit. And they don’t have time to vet 50 companies or sit through endless demos. They’re busy working with athletes all day. That’s why they need help finding the right solutions — and why relevance, speed, and clarity matter so much more than hype.”

🧰 On the Importance of Trust, Tools, and Vetting

“Teams don’t always have the time or resources to vet every product that hits their inbox. That’s why at Upside, we’ve built a platform where they can compare vendors instantly — pricing, specs, scientific backing, customer base — in one place. It’s launching during our dinner at the NBA Summer League. The idea is simple: give performance directors and trainers the ability to cut through the noise in 60 seconds. They don’t want to dig through 20 websites. They want to know what works, how much it costs, and who else is using it. And most importantly — is there proof that it delivers results? If we don’t build tools like this, teams will keep drowning in options without clarity.”

🧬 On Traction vs. Innovation

“You can have the most innovative product in the world, but if you don’t have customers — if you don’t have traction — most teams won’t touch it. They want to know: is this real? Has someone else used it in a real environment, in competition or during rehab, and seen results? You also have the opposite: companies with huge marketing budgets and traction but no innovation. That’s not ideal either. The sweet spot is when you’ve got something new, but it’s validated — scientifically and commercially. Teams are cautious for good reason. They don’t want to be guinea pigs. And they’ve been burned before. So unless you’ve got proof and a plan, it’s hard to break through.”

🔍 On How Startups Can Stand Out and Win

“If I had to lay it out clearly for a startup founder, here’s what I’d say: First, make sure your product is commercial-ready — not just a prototype. Second, back it with science — real studies, not just internal testing. Third, get your first paid customer — not a free trial, not a test, but someone actually paying. Fourth, find athlete ambassadors who elevate your brand. And fifth, get repeatable sales. Investors care about recurring revenue, because that’s what leads to sustainable growth. And don’t just build — promote. Speak at conferences, publish case studies, get on panels, show thought leadership. Be the expert, not just the engineer. That’s how you separate yourself from the other 9,999.”

🧑‍💼 On Athlete Investors and Their Role in Startups

“It’s incredibly common now to see athletes investing in startups. They know their playing careers are short — and many of them are already planning their post-sport careers while still on the court. I interviewed Thaddeus Young — he’s invested in over 200 startups through his family office. He told me his goal is to make as much money after basketball as he did during his playing years. And that’s the mentality. But it’s not easy for startups to get access to those athletes. And even when they do, there’s negotiation. Some athletes want equity in exchange for exposure, others want to invest actual capital. It depends. But overall, yes — athletes are absolutely active in the ecosystem as advisors, investors, even co-founders in some cases.”

🧭 On Startup Intent and Founder Mentality

“There’s a huge difference between startups trying to build something big and startups that just want to have fun. I’ve seen founders who treat it like a side hustle — something that pays for their trips to Dubai or Barcelona, maybe gives them a reason to say ‘I work with Barcelona’ or ‘I met with the 49ers.’ But they have no intention of raising money, building a team, or scaling globally. That’s fine — but teams need to know that. Because if they adopt a product and the company disappears 12 months later, that’s risk. Serious founders are raising capital, building structure, hiring teams. They’re in it for the long run. And that’s who teams — and investors — want to work with.”

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Today we have the honor of interviewing Michael Ross, CEO of Nice Recovery systems, a leading manufacturer of performance and recovery devices with an expertise in cooling.

NICE Recovery Systems is a Boulder‑based firm founded in 2012 by Michael Ross after his own injury-driven recovery experience inspired the creation of an iceless cold‑compression therapy device. The company’s flagship NICE 1 Cold + Compression Therapy System (FDA‑approved in December 2014) delivers programmable cooling and pneumatic compression entirely without ice, making it lightweight, convenient, and trusted by orthopedic clinics, professional athletic teams, and military/military contractors.

Picture: NICE 1

In June 2025, NICE launched the NICE ROCC, a first of its kind palm cooling device based on 2 decades of research from Stanford University. The ROCC is battery operated and provides precise and powerful palm cooling without the need for ice or water. The ROCC is currently in use by professional hockey and baseball teams as well as elite strength athletes.

Picture: NICE ROCC

To learn more about Nice Recovery Systems please visit https://getnice.com

You can watch the video interview below by clicking on the Youtube link. You can also listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page:

Here is a video showcasing the NICE1 device:

Customers / partners: NHL teams (Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks), MLB teams (NY Yankees).

📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on his background, his company and product, the benefits for teams to use their product and platform. We also talked about the state of the palm cooling market, his competitive advantage, business model, and his plans for the next 12 months.

You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Michael located at the top of this blog post.

Of note, Michael will be presenting at our VIP dinner at the NBA Summer league on July 15 at the Wynn hotel.

Here are the best quotes from the interview with Michael:

1. Your Background

“I’m what we in the U.S. call a serial entrepreneur. NICE Recovery Systems is actually my fifth venture. But this one was very personal — it started after I had a pretty horrific ski crash in 2010 while competing as a master's ski racer. I was focused on speed events like downhill skiing, and the crash resulted in multiple surgeries. During my recovery, I used a traditional cold therapy device — the kind you have to keep filling with ice — which was incredibly inconvenient since I was on crutches. I kept thinking, ‘There has to be a better way.’ That moment sparked the idea for NICE — to build a cold therapy device that doesn’t use ice. By 2014 we filed with the FDA, and by 2015 we launched into full-scale production. Since then, we've made over 18,000 units and are expanding internationally now that we’re MDR-cleared in the EU. What started as a solution to a personal problem has become a medical device company helping thousands of people around the world.”

2. Your Company and Product

“We’ve grown from a single-product company into one with a focused portfolio around recovery and performance. Our core medical product is the NICE1 — an FDA-cleared, class II cold and compression therapy device, designed and manufactured entirely in Boulder, Colorado. It’s used primarily in orthopedic recovery post-surgery — hip replacements, knee reconstructions, rotator cuff repairs — those types of injuries. But we also recently launched the ROCC, a palm cooling device born out of listening to the Huberman Lab podcast. I heard Dr. Heller from Stanford talking about the physiological benefits of palm cooling and thought, ‘This modality clearly works — but why isn’t it widely used?’ Turns out, the issue wasn’t efficacy — it was usability. The current devices were bulky, messy, and relied on ice or water. So we thought, we’ve already got the cooling tech. Why not engineer a palm cooling product that’s portable, rechargeable, and easy to use? We built a prototype and realized this could be something big. Then we reached out to Porsche Design to help shape the industrial design. That’s how the ROCC came to life — a science-backed, precision-engineered palm cooling tool that actually looks and feels great to use.”

3. The Main Use Cases You Are Addressing

“The NICE1 and the ROCC serve two very different — but complementary — roles. The NICE1 is for injury recovery, particularly post-op. After orthopedic surgery, patients deal with pain, inflammation, and mobility issues. We designed the NICE1 to be compact, user-friendly, and ice-free, so patients recovering at home — often while on medication — don’t have to struggle with cold packs and bandages. It’s prescribed by surgeons and distributed through clinics or partners like the Hospital for Special Surgery or the Steadman Clinic. On the other hand, the ROCC was built for performance enhancement. In competitive sports, time is everything — halftime is short, rest periods are brief. By cooling the palms during these windows, we help lower athletes’ core body temperature and heart rate faster, so they’re better prepared to perform in the second half. Research shows palm cooling for 10–15 minutes during halftime can reduce core temperature by a full degree and heart rate by 15 BPM — it’s like giving them more rest in less time. In training, especially resistance workouts, palm cooling between sets reduces muscle fatigue and enables more reps. The Stanford study even compared it to steroids — and palm cooling outperformed anabolic steroids in terms of training gains. That’s a powerful, non-invasive performance tool.”

4. The Palm Cooling Market and Main Trends

“Palm cooling is still in its infancy as a market. Right now, it’s a niche modality understood primarily by strength coaches, performance scientists, and elite teams. But the science has been around for decades — it started with DARPA and the Royal Navy in the ‘90s, who wanted to cool soldiers operating in extreme heat. The modality works. What’s been missing is usability and awareness. That’s starting to change. You now see a few companies offering palm cooling at different price points — from under $100 to high-end solutions like ours. We’re seeing strong adoption from NHL teams, NFL trainers, strength athletes like Brian Shaw and Hafthor Bjornsson, and elite gym-goers. The next wave will be driven by visibility and education. When people see athletes using it courtside, or during a live game, they’ll start asking questions. Combine that with more clinical research — like what we’re seeing around hydration, lactate clearance, and DOMS — and you’ve got the early stages of what I think will become a mainstream performance technology. It’s where massage guns were 5–7 years ago.”

5. The Benefits for Teams to Use Your Product

“Teams love that the ROCC works and that it’s field-ready. It’s small, battery-powered, no ice, and designed for mobility. We saw hockey players using it during playoff games between shifts, which is a brutal time physically. They’re fully geared up, fatigued, and coming off the ice gassed — palm cooling helps them recover faster, feel fresher, and hit the next shift harder. In football or basketball, it’s great during halftime. We’ve got several NFL, MLB, and NHL teams already using it. From a training standpoint, it allows athletes to get more out of each session — more reps, more power, faster recovery. And it’s not speculative. You try it, and you see the difference. We’ve seen top athletes shatter PRs the first time they use it. There’s no guesswork — it’s measurable, immediate impact.”

6. Your Competitive Advantages

“Our engineering team is second to none when it comes to cooling technologies. We iterate fast — we turned the ROCC from idea to functional prototype in three months, and we’re constantly testing and refining. We manufacture everything in-house in Boulder, which gives us complete control over quality and innovation. A lot of our competitors outsource to China or Southeast Asia. That’s fine for cost, but not for agility. Because we started in the medical field, everything we do — even consumer products — is built with a regulatory-grade mindset. Our quality systems, documentation, and testing protocols are far more robust than what you’d typically see in consumer electronics. And that pays off in reliability. Also, we’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We specialize in cooling — and we do it better than anyone else in the market.”

7. What Teams Like About Your Product

“When we talk to teams, the number one thing they care about is effectiveness. They’re data-driven. If it doesn’t make a measurable difference, they’re not interested. The ROCC makes a difference immediately — whether it’s lowering heart rate, improving second-half output, or extending set volume in strength training. After that, they care about ease of use — it’s got to be portable, durable, quick to charge, and simple to implement. Unlike older products that used water or bulky cooling systems, the ROCC is clean, fast, and field-ready. Teams like the Avalanche told us that it integrated seamlessly into their workflow, and players responded well to the experience. That’s the gold standard: measurable impact and smooth adoption.”

8. Your Business Model

“Our business is split. NICE1 is sold via medical distributors who rent the devices to patients post-surgery. That’s a mature market with a clear prescription model — doctors prescribe it, patients rent it, insurance often covers it. With the ROCC, we’re doing a direct-to-consumer approach, but following a strategy similar to Hyperice and Theragun: start with the pros. Get the devices into the hands of elite athletes, sports scientists, and trainers — people who understand the value right away. Over time, the awareness filters down to consumers. But we’re not rushing it. The gym market will take a few years, and that’s fine. We’re in it for the long game.”

9. Your Plans for the Next 12 Months

“We’ve been profitable and cash flow positive for four years now, which gives us freedom. We don’t need outside capital — we fund new R&D from operations. Over the next 12 months, we’re focusing on three main goals: first, international expansion of NICE1, especially in the EU. Second, deeper adoption of ROCC among pro teams and early adopters. And third, launching two new products — one medical and one performance-based. We’re also working on a percussion gun with novel technology that’s currently going through the patent process. And we’re expanding our staff and facility here in Boulder. We’ve got 35 employees now and expect that to grow. We’re staying true to our values — build smart, high-quality tools here in the U.S., and let the market come to us through impact and authenticity.”

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This week we had the honor to interview again Dr. Ron Dick, associate professor of sports marketing at Duquesne University in the school of business. Ron also worked for 20 years in sports, including 15 years in the NBA with the Sixers and the Nets, and then five years in the NCAA.

You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Ron located at the top of this blog post.

You can watch the video interview below by clicking on the Youtube link. You can also listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page:

📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on the following topics:

Q1. NCAA update Q2. MLB update - Allstar gameQ3. NFL camp’s starting the grindQ4. NHL DraftQ5. Free agent signings in NBA/NFL Q6. NBA OKC championship, Q6. French open - Sinner / Alcatraz Q7. PSG @ World Cup of soccer clubs

Here are the best quotes from the interview with Ron:

Q1. NCAA Update (NIL..)

Dr Ron Dick:

“We’ve now had four full years to see how the NCAA has handled name, image, and likeness — the NIL — and things have evolved dramatically. When this all began, the landscape was vague, uncertain, and completely unregulated. No one knew exactly who was getting what or how deals were being structured. It was, frankly, the Wild West — undocumented, except maybe by the IRS. But now, fast forward to July 1st, 2025, and we’re starting to see the emergence of a more defined structure, which I think is a step in the right direction. The next phase, which is already underway, is conference-level decisions on whether to opt in or out of television revenue sharing — and that could reshape college sports as we know it.”

“The model they’re exploring is similar to what the NFL uses — equal sharing of TV revenue. And why does that work? Because it lifts everyone. When the tide comes in, all the ships rise. That’s how a small-market team like Green Bay can compete with a juggernaut like New York. That model is coming to college football, and it’ll be up to each conference to decide if they want to participate. I believe most will.”

“What’s also fascinating is how the so-called ‘losers’ of realignment — Oregon State and Washington State — may end up being the winners. They’re aligning with football schools from the Mountain West and are pushing toward an automatic qualifier for the playoff. There’s growing momentum for a 16-team playoff structure with five major conference champions and 11 at-large bids. In hindsight, being left out might’ve been the right call.”

Q2. MLB Update – All-Star Game + Standings

Dr Ron Dick:

“The All-Star Game this year is set for July 15th in Atlanta, and fans are genuinely excited. This event hits right at the halfway point of the season and offers a rare and much-needed break for the players. These guys play nearly every day from April to September, and the All-Star break is their only true moment to rest, recharge, and showcase their talent on a national stage. The Home Run Derby is always a fan favorite, and it really brings casual viewers back into the sport midseason.”

“From a competitive standpoint, there are some really interesting developments. The Toronto Blue Jays are exceeding expectations and leading a very competitive AL East, where the Yankees, Rays, and Red Sox are still strong. That’s easily the most stacked division in baseball. In the National League West, the Dodgers are dominant again, and both the Padres and Giants are performing well. Meanwhile, teams like the Colorado Rockies are struggling to even reach 40 wins — which would be a record low. There’s a huge disparity in performance this year, but that’s baseball. It always finds a way to balance drama and unpredictability.”

Q3. NFL Camps Starting – Preseason Outlook

Dr Ron Dick:

“We’re heading into August, which means NFL training camps are getting underway. And with that, optimism returns for every fanbase. This is when ‘hope springs eternal.’ Every team believes they have a shot. It’s the start of what we call ‘the grind’ — from the first padded practices through to the Super Bowl in February. It’s long, it’s grueling, and it’s relentless.”

“You’ve got big storylines this year — the Chiefs trying to repeat, the Eagles retooling, and the Cowboys as perennial contenders in theory, if not in practice. The AFC North, in particular, should be must-watch with stacked rosters. And then there are teams like the Commanders, who’ve made major moves — acquiring a top defensive player from the 49ers, drafting a quarterback like Jayden Daniels, and hiring Dan Quinn. They’re building something strong in D.C. Everyone’s got their free agents locked in. Trading is slowing down. And fans are glued to the NFL Network around the clock. It’s the number one sport in America — no doubt about it.”

Q3. NHL Draft + Florida Teams

Dr Ron Dick:

“The NHL Draft has passed, and what’s interesting is that while you don’t see many trades in the NHL, there’s always a heavy emphasis on development — drafting young players and signing the right free agents. Look at what happened in Florida. The Panthers went from afterthoughts to back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. That doesn’t happen without vision, leadership, and buy-in from the roster.”

“Edmonton has now lost two straight finals, which is tough. They have a great young core, but psychologically, that’s hard to bounce back from. And Tampa Bay is still a powerhouse. These aren’t traditional hockey markets, but success has changed the narrative. People said you couldn’t sell ice in the sand. But now, Florida has two of the most competitive NHL teams, and the fanbases are growing — slowly, but winning always helps fill seats.”

Q4. NBA + NFL Free Agent Signings

Dr Ron Dick:

“Kevin Durant being traded to the Rockets shocked everyone — including Kevin himself. The criticism that he can’t win on his own has followed him for years, but let’s be honest: he’s still an elite shooter. Watching him dominate at the Olympics this year, hitting shot after shot in the final, just proved how sharp he still is. The Rockets are building something, and Durant might just be the right veteran presence to push them over the top.”

“LeBron is a big question mark. He’s still incredibly productive, meticulous about his body — spends $1.5 million a year maintaining it. The man is a machine. But there’s talk that his wife wants him to retire. We’ve seen this before — remember the Brady situation. But I could honestly see him going back to Cleveland for one last run. That team is young and talented — they just might need one more piece to contend. And how poetic would it be for LeBron to close his career where it began?”

“In the NFL, the Rodgers deal is low-risk — a one-year contract, $10–12 million. If it works, great. If not, no long-term damage. And looking ahead, the Steelers are hosting the 2026 Draft and are expected to pursue one of the many talented QBs projected in that class. It’s a big setup for the future.”

Q5. NBA – Oklahoma City Thunder Championship

Dr Ron Dick:

“This year’s NBA Finals were phenomenal — OKC versus Indiana. It wasn’t the ratings bonanza that a Lakers-Knicks matchup would bring, but in terms of basketball IQ, strategy, and grit, this was a classic. Seven games, full drama. And for people in Pittsburgh, it was special to see TJ McConnell — who played locally and at Duquesne — have such a standout role.”

“I’m especially happy for Scott Loft, the Thunder’s VP of Sales, who finally got a ring after 37 years in the business. And let’s not forget what this means for OKC. They’re young, hungry, and loaded with draft capital. When SGA said after the win, ‘We’re just getting started,’ it didn’t feel like hyperbole. This team is built for a decade-long run. If they manage things right, we could be looking at a new dynasty in the making.”

Q6. French Open – Sinner vs. Alcaraz

Julien Blin:

“The French Open final this year was absolutely incredible. Alcaraz versus Sinner. Five sets. Five hours. And the momentum shift — with Alcaraz coming back from two sets down — was a masterclass in endurance, focus, and athletic brilliance. People often overlook how demanding tennis is, but at that level, it’s among the most physically and mentally challenging sports on Earth.”

“What we saw wasn’t just a final — it was the beginning of a rivalry. Like Federer-Nadal. These two are young, polished, and will meet over and over again in the years to come. It’s the dawn of a new era in men’s tennis.”

Q7. PSG at World Cup of Soccer Clubs

Julien Blin:

“PSG just demolished Real Madrid 4-0 — and they were up by three in the first 20 minutes. This comes after they won the Champions League, and it cements their place as the best club team in the world right now. What’s fascinating is that they did this after letting go of Mbappé — and it turns out that may have been the best move they could’ve made.”

“Luis Enrique deserves a ton of credit. He told the players straight up: ‘If you don’t defend as a unit and attack together, you won’t play.’ That’s why Mbappé didn’t fit in. The team now plays with cohesion, balance, and hunger. That’s a real system at work — and it’s winning at the highest level.”

Dr Ron Dick:

“But the bigger picture here is the soccer calendar. These guys don’t stop. You’ve got the Club World Cup in summer, national league campaigns, Champions League, and next year — the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. It reminds me of when Jordan played three seasons and then went straight into the Olympics. The physical toll is enormous. But next summer, the world will be watching, and the U.S. is going to be the center of global football.”

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Today we have the honor of interviewing Dr Warren Bradley, Founder at Hytro a leading blood flow restriction company.

Hytro is the world's first wearable Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) system designed specifically for sport. Trusted by 250+ sports teams across the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, and The Premier League, Hytro’s patented BFR products enable coaches & athletes to integrate BFR within their existing work flows; warm-ups, training, recovery, and travel, without the need for supervision. Hytro turns cutting-edge BFR science into a simple and powerful tool for those who demand better: faster recovery, smarter training, and the edge to outperform. To book a discovery call, visit www.hytro.com

You can watch the video interview below by clicking on the Youtube link. You can also listen to the audio interview by clicking on the link at the top of the page:

Here are some pictures of the Hytro products (Short, t-shirt):

Customers / partners: 250+ sports teams across the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, and The Premier League.

Here is a video testimonial from the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) using Hytro products:

Here is a video testimonial from NBA practitioner Mike G using Hytro:

📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on his background, his company and product, the benefits for teams to use their product and platform. We also talked about his competitive advantage, business model, and his plans for the next 12 months.

You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Warren located at the top of this blog post.

Of note, Hytro will also be presenting at our VIP dinner at the NBA Summer league on July 15 at the Wynn hotel.

Here are the best quotes from the interview with Warren:

1. Your Background

“I’m the founder of Hytro, but before that I spent just over a decade working in professional sports. I was fortunate to work in international rugby with England Rugby, and in the Premier League with Hull City and several other teams. During that time, I also completed a PhD in Exercise Physiology. Essentially, I was wearing two hats: I was both a practitioner, working on the ground with athletes, and an academic researcher. That meant I was constantly questioning and critiquing the practices we used in club environments. One of the techniques I used frequently was blood flow restriction (BFR), especially for rehab. I loved the effects, but I found the devices too complex and impractical for widespread use. So I decided to invent a new, more user-friendly way of applying BFR. That led to the patented wearable BFR technology that became the foundation of Hytro.”

2. Your Company and Product

“Hytro was created to break down the barriers that were limiting BFR use to rehab-only applications. Blood flow restriction is one of the most well-researched techniques in sports science, with thousands of published papers supporting its benefits. But traditional BFR devices are app-based, pneumatic, wired, and frankly, cumbersome. You needed supervision to use them. What we did with Hytro was simplify the application by integrating BFR into wearables—shorts and shirts that athletes can easily wear on their own. We removed the tech clutter but embedded all the science and safety. That changed the game because now BFR could be used not just in rehab, but throughout the performance continuum—in warmups, in recovery, on flights, in ice baths, even during meetings. We now have global patents for this approach and are working with several hundred teams worldwide, including a growing footprint in the U.S. despite being a lean, agile company with just five or six full-time staff and high-quality fractional talent from brands like Nike and Gymshark.”

3. The Main Use Cases You Are Addressing

“At Hytro, we focus on what we call the performance continuum. While BFR is already well validated for rehab—muscle regeneration, bone remodeling, etc.—we see the bigger opportunity in supporting the 95% of athletes who are healthy and competing. The most common use case among our clients is recovery. Athletes use our shorts post-competition in the locker room, while taking in nutrition or attending a meeting. Many teams use them on game day plus one during recovery sessions—bike flushes, mobility work, ice baths. The beauty of our product is the user can choose when to strap in and apply pressure, making it extremely adaptable. Increasingly, we’re also seeing athletes use Hytro in ice baths, which is showing promising effects on recovery metrics. We’ve already completed one study with a UK pro soccer team and are conducting lab research to validate the physiological mechanisms, including muscle protein synthesis and inflammation markers. So in summary, teams are using Hytro for recovery, performance enhancement, and travel, not just rehab.”

4. The BFR Market and Main Trends

“The BFR market has been around for decades. And to be perfectly honest, until Hytro, everyone was doing the same thing just slightly better—refining cuffs, improving apps—but the basic delivery method stayed the same. The problem with that? It's not scalable. These systems still required supervision and could be risky if misapplied. What we did with Hytro was rethink the category. We built BFR directly into wearables, ensuring correct placement, safety, and ease of use. That’s what enabled mass adoption across full squads. Traditional BFR devices mainly served rehab and return to play. We’ve opened up applications across training, recovery, and travel. Our innovation wasn’t just in the science—it was in the deployment and accessibility.”

5. The Benefits for Teams to Use Your Product

“The core benefit is that BFR, when applied properly, magnifies the physiological stress of whatever you're doing. For example, walking with BFR feels like sprinting to your muscles. A bodyweight squat feels like a weighted squat. This means you can get a greater training stimulus in less time or with lower loads. That’s massive for athletes who are already heavily loaded. In academy settings, say you have a 17-year-old who needs to build mass—BFR lets you add effective training volume without overloading joints or the nervous system. You can do a 15-minute low-load session with no muscle tearing, only cell swelling, and still get hypertrophy benefits. Similarly, if an athlete is lagging in endurance but you can’t add more intense sessions, BFR lets them do light pedaling on a bike while still driving adaptations like mitochondrial biogenesis. It’s efficient, low-impact, and doesn’t compromise recovery. That’s the real value: more output with less load and less fatigue.”

6. Your Competitive Advantages

“Our biggest competitive advantage is how simple and safe our product is. BFR traditionally required precise placement, tech devices, and supervision. With Hytro, it’s just a pair of shorts or a shirt. You strap in and go. It takes seconds. That means teams can scale use across full squads. You don’t need staff hovering over every athlete to get the dose right. And because we’ve validated our pressure settings through lab testing, we’ve built in fail-safes that prevent athletes from over-pressurizing. Even the most inexperienced user can use Hytro safely. That’s something other systems simply don’t offer. Also, we focus heavily on integration and education. We don’t just ship a product—we help teams figure out how it fits into their existing workflow. That’s critical. No matter how good the tech is, if it doesn’t fit the team’s daily rhythm, it won’t get used.”

7. What Teams Like About Your Product

“Teams love the ease of implementation. Take the Atlanta Falcons as an example. In their gym, they have huge screens that display the day’s Hytro protocols. Players walk in, grab the shorts that were left on their pegs by the kitman, and just follow the instructions. There’s no complicated setup, no wires, no waiting. It’s frictionless. Coaches know they’re getting a proven dose of BFR that’s safe and effective.

Beyond that, what really resonates with teams is our support and education. We sit down with them, review their schedules and training blocks, and help them figure out the best way to incorporate Hytro. We tailor our onboarding to make sure it fits seamlessly into what they’re already doing. And often what we hear is: ‘We love BFR, but with our old system we couldn’t scale it to the whole team.’ With Hytro, now they can.”

8. Your Business Model

“Our approach is highly consultative. We always start with a discovery call, where we learn about the team’s current workflow, needs, and pain points. From there, we make a recommendation that aligns with their goals. Some teams, like NFL franchises, might start with a pilot of 30 units, and once they see the value, they roll it out across the entire team with 150 units or more. Our recommended retail price is $349 for shorts and about $60 less for the shirts. But we provide volume discounts and work case by case. We also make it easy to get started—you can find booking links on our website and LinkedIn. We want to educate and support, not just sell.”

9. Your Plans for the Next 12 Months

“We’ve been fortunate to be backed by a growing group of coaches and athletes who believe in our mission—from NFL stars to Formula 1 drivers. Some of our clients have even invested in the company. As for what’s next, we’re focused on scaling across U.S. and European pro leagues and the collegiate market. We’ve hired new sales staff in the U.S., and they’re doing an amazing job already.

At the same time, we’re preparing to enter the consumer market. We’re working with Tour de France cycling teams to produce research and content that shows everyday cyclists how they can use Hytro to increase their functional threshold power or peak power output. It’s about translating elite insights to everyday performance. So, pro sports and colleges are the focus now, but we’re setting the stage for a broader direct-to-consumer offering in the very near future.”

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