UrAvgCoach Podcast Episode 6: Dr. James M. Harvey – Breath, Healing, and the Power of Purpose

In this powerful and personal episode, I sit down with my cousin and “big brother,” Dr. James M. Harvey a licensed physical therapist and breathing coach with a mission to help people heal themselves from the inside out. We dive into everything from our childhood memories to the science behind breathwork and chronic pain.

Dr. Harvey shares his journey from studying psychology to becoming a physical therapist, his struggles with back pain, and the moment he realized healing is more than physical it’s emotional, mental, and spiritual. We talk about the importance of breathing, the nervous system, and how simple techniques can unlock energy, reduce stress, and improve performance, especially for athletes.

We also explore how leadership shows up in coaching and healthcare, the real meaning of doing hard things, and the power of purpose driven work. Whether you’re a coach, an athlete, or someone trying to feel better in your body, this episode has something for you.

💬 Topics Covered:

• The connection between breath and healing

• Chronic pain and the nervous system

• Coaching lessons and leadership challenges

• Personal stories and real-life growth

How to reach Dr. Harvey?

IG- DocHarvey

📧 [email protected]

This one’s special! Tune in and learn how breath is life.

In this episode, I sit down with Brendan Thompson — founder of btexceleration, physical therapist, and performance coach based in St. Louis. Brendan shares his inspiring journey from battling a devastating ACL injury in high school to becoming an All-American sprinter at the University of Iowa.

We dive deep into:

• His transition from athlete to coach and clinician

• Lessons learned from overcoming injury

• How he built btexceleration from the ground up

• His approach to athlete development, recovery, and performance

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or just someone who values hard work and growth, this episode is full of insight and inspiration. Brendan keeps it real about training smarter, handling setbacks, and balancing business and family life.

🎧 Tap in and hear how Brendan is making a difference one athlete at a time!

From Plainfield to USC — Brenton Emanuel’s Coaching Journey

USC Men’s Sprints & Hurdles Coach Brenton Emanuel joins the show to share his powerful story of growth — from a kid in Plainfield, Illinois, to coaching at one of the top programs in college track and field.

We talk about his journey through Eastern Illinois, Cal U Pennsylvania, Illinois State, Nebraska, and now USC, the lessons he learned facing adversity, and how he’s grown as a coach, husband, and father. Brenton opens up about coaching hurdlers without being a hurdler himself, the importance of athlete care, and what it’s really like stepping into a Power 5 program.

Plus, he drops real coaching gems — including training methods like continuous 200s and breaking down 400m reps — that every coach can use.

This one’s about more than coaching… it’s about chasing growth.

This special roundtable episode brings together the Plainfield South coaching staff and Carson Vittorio of Illinois Running News for an unforgettable conversation about coaching, culture, and chasing purpose.

🎙️ Guests:

• Coach Crowe

• Coach Marcus

• Coach Thompsen

• Carson Vittorio

We talk about:

• First coaching memories

• Life lessons through track & field

• The legendary 2006 DQ story

• Coaching for legacy, not just wins

💙 This episode is dedicated in loving memory of ISP Corey S. Thompsen, a hero and the brother of one of our own. A scholarship has been established in his name at his former high school to support students pursuing criminal justice. If you’d like to donate, you can support the fund via Venmo https://account.venmo.com/u/trooper-corey-s-thompsen

On this episode of UrAvgCoach, I sit down with 🎙️ Mike Cunningham from Gill Athletics—coach, podcast host, and a true ambassador for the track & field world. We talk 🗣️ coaching culture, leadership lessons, and the power of relationships.

Mike shares 🔥 insights about why your “why” matters more than your title, how to build a meaningful coaching journey, and what it really means to leave a legacy in sports and life.

This one’s about more than X’s and O’s—it’s about people.

Welcome to UrAvgCoach, the podcast that dives deeper than the stop watches & X’s and O’s. Hosted by sprint coach Anthony Woods, this show brings you real conversations with coaches from all levels and all sports. We’re here to learn what drives them, not just as coaches, but as people. What motivates them, what challenges they’ve overcome, and what makes them more than just your average coach.

Tune in for more episodes featuring raw, insightful, and inspiring stories that go beyond the game or meet. First guest: the legendary Tony Holler, founder of the Feed the Cats sprint training system.