THIRST For More Podcast

0:00 – Show Intro

3:21 – Podcast begins

4:10 – Todd's journey through strength and conditioning

11:55 – Todd's takeaways from working with Buddy Morris

21:51 – How Todd got results with lower budget university programs

28:11 – Todd's recommendations for younger coaches

40:36 – What Todd looks for when hiring staff and/or interns

53:54 – Todd breaks down his programming and philosophy

1:03:28 – Todd's top three book recommendations

1:10:08 – What would Todd Hamer tell his younger self?

About Todd Hamer

Website: https://unionfitness.com

Instagram: @toddhamer1

Todd Hamer is currently the General Manager at Union Fitness in Pittsburgh , PA. Todd has spent time at Pitt, Penn St, UNC, VCU, George Mason, Marist College, The Citadel, George Mason, Robet Morris & The George Washington University. He's also competed in powerlifting both raw and geared with best lifts of 475 bench press, 595 squat, 560 deadlift. He's presented at scores of seminars and clinics while being published multiple times both online as well in print magazines. Todd is married with one son Tenzing. 

0:00 – Show Intro

4:42 – Podcast begins

6:55 – THIRST Core Values

7:50 – Trustworthy

11:25 – Humble

17:24 – Integrity

22:01– Respect

26:29 – Strength

30:45 – Teamwork

36:08 – Communication

43:18 – Having systems in place on how you work with athletes and clients

49:04 – Brief synopsis of what makes a good personal trainer and strength coach

About Brandon Smitley

Instagram: @bsmitley @team.thirst

Website: THIRSTgym.com

Brandon Smitley is a world renowned strength coach and athlete for over a decade. He and his wife, Adrian, own Terre Haute Intensity Resistance and Sports Training (THIRST) where they work with youth athletes and personal training clients of all ages. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Health and Fitness, and his Master’s degree from Indiana State University in Physical Education and Coaching. Brandon has been awarded Personal Trainer of the Year Awards from Purdue University and Indiana State University as well is the 2020 Reader's Choice for Best Personal Trainer in Terre Haute, IN and the Wabash Valley.

Brandon is a sponsored athlete with Elitefts and NutraBio where as a competitive powerlifter he currently holds the all-time world record squat in the 132 pound weight class, with a 567 pound squat. He also holds a 330 pound bench press, and 510 pound deadlift in that weight class, totaling 1377 pounds, ranking 4th all-time. He provides online coaching and programming around the world, and has personally worked with over 200 athletes in the US, UK, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and other countries. Brandon’s been published at Elitefts, Muscle and Performance, and Muscle and Fitness magazine.

He holds his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Level One Sports Performance (USAW), Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certifications, and is educated in PRI for Fitness and Performance.

0:00 – Show Intro

3:29 – Podcast begins

4:54 – How Chris got into strength and conditioning

9:25 – How Chris approaches training athletes

22:41 – Lower body training philosophy for baseball/softball athletes

30:08 – Metrics to determine a strong baseball player

34:46 – How Chris uses his progression and regression model with his athletes

44:50 – The similarities between training adults and athletes

52:40 – How Chris approaches his athletes from a nutrition standpoint

1:01:43 – Communicating the value of academics in athletics

1:10:24 – Embracing the meathead stigma we get as strength coaches

1:17:34 – The value of safety and lessons learned in the weigh room via accountability

1:20:12 – What Chris recommends to get involved in high school strength and conditioning

1:27:30 – Chris's recommendations for baseball and softball coaches for continuing education

About Chris Bartl

Instagram: @chrisbartlead

Chris Bartl is the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Mt. Baker High School in Deming, WA. He is also the owner and Co-Founder of Elite Athlete Development, where he consults with various high school sports programs to help with their strength and conditioning programs, as well as the owner of Bartl Strength & Conditioning, an online training business dedicated to helping working adults ages 35-50 keep the belly fat off, develop nutritional habits that fit with their ideal lifestyle and basically kick ass at life.

He has been a personal trainer for over 11 years and has worked with hundreds of different clients, ranging from 9-year old athletes, to 65-year olds battling cancer and everyone in between

0:00 – Show Intro

3:32 – Podcast begins

4:39 – How Conjugate U started

8:33 – The hurdles Nate had to overcome with implementing the conjugate system at the collegiate level

11:56 – How Nate come up with the "lanes" in his programming style

15:56 – How to phase in freshman into the Conjugate U system

19:01 – The benefits to the box squat

24:36 – What max effort movements has Nate seen big dividends from?

29:00 – How Nate goes about peaking athletes with Conjugate U

33:12 – Explaining the importance of of technique on max effort work

35:25 – Controlling rest periods with teams when using the dynamic effort method

38:23 – How Nate would use Conjugate U at the private sector

40:55 – Where to put in the Olympic variants with Conjugate U

43:33 – The use of Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) in the collegiate setting

48:13 – Shit Sport Coaches Say

51:19 – Nate's role with Elitefts

About Nate Harvey

Instagram: @nateharvey2600

Website: www.elitefts.com

Nate Harvey, MS, CSCS, is elitefts' executive equipment specialist and brings years of experience and knowledge of athletic disciplines to our customers. Nate developed his vast athletic history as the former head strength coach of Olympic sports at The State University of New York at Buffalo. During his 10 years at UB, he coached their first-ever national champion (shot put), four team conference champions (one back-to-back), eight of the school's twelve total All-Americans, 18 Olympic trial qualifiers, over 50 individual conference champions, 16 individual national qualifiers, and over 75 individual regional qualifiers using the conjugate method. He is also a strength and conditioning consultant for the New York Jets. He was certified in Reflexive Performance Reset in February 2017. His best total is 2,450 in the 308 weight class multi-ply division. In the 275-pound class, his best total is 2,250 sans supraspinatus. His best lifts are a 1,000-pound squat, a 750-pound bench, and a 750-pound deadlift. Nate looks forward to helping address all of your equipment needs. Contact him at [email protected]

Conjugate U

0:00 – Show Intro

3:47 – Podcast begins

5:20 – The pro's and con's of working with your significant other

14:38 – How to communicate with the female client or athlete

24:46 – What Julia and Christian believe is the biggest pitfall with training the female youth athlete

31:55 – The importance of nutrition for the female youth athlete (and male athlete)

42:06– Julia explains what it's like being a female in the strength and conditioning field

47:37 – What is tri-phasic training? And how Christian uses it with his clients and athletes

57:45 – How Julia and Christian work with their children in the weightroom, and how that conversation differs from a traditional client

1:05:41 – Julia and Christian's opinion on sport specialization

About Julia Anto

Instagram: @julia.ant_toe

Website: www.bellaforza.me

Julia Anto, CSCS, is a coach to strength athletes, like powerlifters, physique competitors and crossfitters as well as recreational lifters and those seeking body transformation through muscle-building and fat loss. She takes pride in helping people from all walks of life to see and reach their full potential. Julia is a former Division I strength & conditioning coach from the University at Buffalo, where she worked with every sport on campus. She currently coaches at Illiana Power Asylum with her husband, Christian.

So You Want To Be a Strength Coach…

Judged

About Christian Anto

Instagram: @ant_toe

Website: mohawkmethod.com

Christian began his athletic career in high school as a soccer player. He continued his soccer career into college playing for a NJCAA school in Madison, Wisconsin. From there he turned to the weight room to extend his athletic goals and transitioned into studying Human Health Sciences. During his transition, he crossed paths with NBS Fitness gym owner David Allen. After several months, Christian converted his educational focus to Exercise Sports Sciences where he has earned his bachelor’s degree and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification. Christian is also a competitive powerlifter who has gained elite totals in three weight classes and stays competitive in the 181-pound class with a 1770 total. He is very passionate about his training and brings that intensity to his clients. Christian has a very technical eye for movement mechanics, particularly when it comes to powerlifting. He currently resides in Highland, Indiana working out of Illinana Power Asylum. Christian is ready to share his knowledge and help clients become strong and healthy while reaching their personal fitness goals.

0:00 – Show Intro

4:20 – Podcast begins

5:49 – What Justin does at Kansas State University

10:52 – What is heart rate variability (HRV)?

15:00 – What is the research saying about HRV with endurance athletes?

27:05 – How Justin's practical background influenced his research and understanding of academic papers

34:27– Finding limitations of data and research

46:20 – What Justin plans to do with this Ph.D.

54:06 – Research Justin has came across regarding sports specialization

1:05:52 – Where is HRV going with strength training?

1:12:53 – Justin's recommendations for the average person doing CrossFit

1:23:44 – Is a graduate degree worth it in the exercise science related field?

1:31:36 – Field data scientists as a new career path

About Justin DeBlauw

Instagram: @theeblueguy

Justin DeBlauw is a Ph.D. candidate at Kansas State University working in the “Functional Intensity Training Laboratory” with a research focus on “Biofeedback for individualized exercise prescription”. Previously, he studied at the University of Minnesota and Purdue University, where at Minnesota volunteered as a sports performance intern. He's been an ACSM CPT since 2011 and previously competed in USA weightlifting and soccer, currently training for a Duathlon.

Studies mentioned and referenced:

C. Bouchard (2001) Individual differences in response to regular physical activity

V. Vesterinen (2016) Individual Endurance Training Prescription with HRV

V. Vesterinen (2013) HRV in prediction of individual adaptation to endurance training

Kiviniemi (2007) Endurance training guided individually bby daily HRV measurement

Kiviniemi (2010) Daily exercise prescription on the basis of HRV among men and women

Hautala (2006) Individual differences in the responses to endurance and resistance training

Plews (2013) Training adaptation and HRV in Elite endurance athletes

Borresen (2009) The quantification of training load, training response and effect on performance 

0:00 – Show Intro

2:42 – Podcast begins

4:07 – Brandon's recommendations for sport coaches

29:45 – Looking at a modified training season, and is the conditioning test for football worth it?

35:44 – What we have done at THIRST to help aid our athletes back into the facility

46:09 – Programming running into training programs

49:46– "Please do not kill your kids when you come back"

54:27 – Brandon's recommendations for parents getting kids back into sports

About Brandon Smitley

Instagram: @bsmitley @team.thirst

Website: THIRSTgym.com

Brandon Smitley is a world renowned strength coach and athlete for over a decade. He and his wife, Adrian, own Terre Haute Intensity Resistance and Sports Training (THIRST) where they work with youth athletes and personal training clients of all ages. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Health and Fitness, and his Master’s degree from Indiana State University in Physical Education and Coaching. Brandon has been awarded Personal Trainer of the Year Awards from Purdue University and Indiana State University as well is the 2020 Reader's Choice for Best Personal Trainer in Terre Haute, IN and the Wabash Valley.

Brandon is a sponsored athlete with Elitefts and NutraBio where as a competitive powerlifter he currently holds the all-time world record squat in the 132 pound weight class, with a 567 pound squat. He also holds a 330 pound bench press, and 510 pound deadlift in that weight class, totaling 1377 pounds, ranking 4th all-time. He provides online coaching and programming around the world, and has personally worked with over 200 athletes in the US, UK, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and other countries. Brandon’s been published at Elitefts, Muscle and Performance, and Muscle and Fitness magazine.

He holds his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Level One Sports Performance (USAW), Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certifications, and is educated in PRI for Fitness and Performance.

0:00 – Show Intro

3:15 – Podcast begins

3:32 – Murph's plan to lobby for gyms like his in Massachusetts

11:40 – "Culture coaches when you're not around"

26:35 – "There will be another lock down"

30:51 – The history of Total Performance Sports

41:45– Murph discusses how personal training moved to group and semi-private training

48:01 – What is the TPS Method?

50:40 – Jesse Burdick interrupts the podcast

1:00:36– Big on the basics - we have a responsibility

1:10:52– How Murph and Brandon Smitley met via Elitefts, and what's it's done for them

1:17:24– The first time Murph met Jim Wendler

1:19:11– Murph's recommendations for starting a gym - "Don't"

1:30:00– Murph and Brandon reminisce on old Elitefts stories

About C.J. Murphy

Instagram: @tpsmalden @tpsmethod

Website: TPSMethod.com

Murph is the owner of Total Performance Sports in Malden, Massachusetts and the creator of the Total Performance Method and the Total Performance Method for Powerlifting (tpsmethod.com). His gym was featured as one of America’s 20 Best Gyms – twice. Murph is on the Advisory Board for Men’s Fitness magazine and Muscle and Fitness magazine. He has almost 30 years’ experience as a coach, athlete, and certified nutritionist. Murph is a retired Strongman competitor and former National Powerlifting Champion.

0:00 – Show Intro

2:26 – Podcast begins

4:45 – How Jason is working with his high school athletes during COVID-19

11:17 – Phasing athletes back into training post COVID-19

16:07 – The differences between working with high school athletes versus collegiate athletes in a team setting

22:48 – How Jason controls particular training variables within the sport calendar

29:26– How Jason runs the logistics of a high school weight room

41:17 – Finding balance with the high school sport coach

45:17 – How Jason uses his competitive strongman background to make intelligent training decision with high school athletes

54:22 – What Jason recommends for young strength coaches to consider in each sector of the field

1:06:06– "Renting equipment" versus investing in a training facility

About Jason Nunn

Instagram: @WHSCoachNunn

Jason Nunn is currently the head strength and conditioning coach at Whiteland High School in Whiteland, IN. He works with over 250 athletes with all the high school based sports. Jason was previously at Indiana State University as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach working primarily with football. Prior to coaching at ISU, Jason was the first strength coach at Danville High School while also running and operating his own private facility for over a decade. He has his Master's and Bachelor's degree from Indiana State, where he was a graduate assistant with the strength staff after his football career as an undergrad. Jason has been a national and international strongman competitor, and also holds his CSCS from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

0:00 – Show Intro

2:01 – Podcast begins

2:47 – From marine to the strength and conditioning industry

7:02 – Tony's path to online coaching and gym ownership

11:32 – Tony walks you through what he looks at and manipulates within his nutrition coaching for weight loss or strength and size increases

20:06 – Understanding the NEAT principle and hormones with weight loss clients

25:08 – Building a positive relationship with food

26:17 – Tony discusses his gym, Strength Union, and how he uses it to grow other parts of his businesses; and how a strength sport gym may not be the best business model

34:16 – Building a community and niche through strength

42:44 – Overcoming obstacles by educating and communicating with clients and parents

46:09 – How Tony plans to use his Master's degree as a coach and in his future to further the industry

52:16 – Blending the science and practical side of education through continuing education

56:40 – What it takes to hit a 2000 pound total in powerlifting and how that applies to life

About Tony Montgomery

Instagram: @tonymontgomeryjr

teamphoenixperformance.com

subjectzerosupps.com

Tony studied exercise sports science at Concordia University and is currently pursuing his Master's degree at the University of South Florida. He owns a gym, Strength Union, an online coaching company, Team Phoenix Performance, and a supplement company, Subject Zero Supplements. Tony competes in powerlifting, where he's hit a 2,001-pound total in the 242-pound class. He also served four years in the United States Marine Corps with 2nd Recon Bn.