Performance Talk

What if your best athletic years are still ahead of you? On this episode of Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon, Dr. Gordon sits down with Tony Medrano, CEO of LongevityPlan.ai, to explore how recovery, fitness science, and emerging peptide research are changing the way athletes approach performance and longevity. From completing his first Ironman at 48 to overcoming serious injuries and mainta...

What if the key to better athletic performance isn’t training harder—but recovering smarter? 🏆 On this episode of Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon, sports scientist and exercise physiologist Don Moxley reveals how heart rate variability (HRV), wearable technology, and personalized training strategies can help athletes improve performance, build resilience, and avoid overtraining. From uncov...

What does it really take to get an athlete back in the game after an injury? 🏀💪 On this episode of Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon, physical therapist and sports scientist Dr. Tommy Otley of University of Miami Basketball shares how rehabilitation, sports science, and strength and conditioning work together to help athletes return stronger and perform at their best. From ACL injury recove...

What separates good athletes from great ones? It’s not just physical talent—it’s the mindset behind the performance. 🏆 On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with mental performance coach and former professional basketball player Alison Gorrell to explore how athletes can build mental resilience, manage pressure, and perform at their best when it matters most. From breaki...

What does it really take to get an athlete back in the game? 🏃‍♂️💪 On this episode of Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon, Dr. Gordon welcomes Dr. Alisha Ponce and Dr. Brent Rachall of The Movement Doc to discuss the connection between physical therapy and athletic performance. From building a practice around athlete-centered care to bridging the gap between rehabilitation and return-to-sport...

An athlete can be pain-free, cleared by the doctor, and finished with rehab—but are they actually ready to compete? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Steve Miller, UK physiotherapist and sports performance educator, to tackle one of the biggest challenges in sports: closing the gap between rehabilitation and true game readiness. They discuss what athletes really...

What happens after an athlete is medically cleared but still isn’t truly ready to perform? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Dr. Alicia Ponce to unpack one of the most overlooked parts of athletic recovery: the transition from physical therapy to performance. They discuss the gap between rehabilitation and return-to-play, why being “cleared” doesn’t always mean b...

James Allenby is an Australian former professional cricketer who most recently played for Somerset, where he played as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler. Upon retirement from active competition, Jim works with Players Choice Australia, an independently owned and operated sports coaching company providing expert training and skills development to players of all ages and abil...

What does it really take to build a high-performing athlete—and a great coach? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Coach Miller for a wide-ranging conversation on Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, strength and conditioning, coaching philosophy, and the future of youth athletic development. Coach Miller shares why relationships are the foundation of effective coachin...

What does it really take to perform at the highest level—and what happens when the drive to be great starts taking a toll? On this episode of Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon, former professional cricketer Jim Allenby shares lessons from a 15-year playing career, the evolution of sports science and performance preparation, and the importance of knowing when to push harder—and when it’s time...

On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with sports psychologist Dr. Haley Perlis for a powerful conversation about the mental side of athletic performance. They explore how athletes can build confidence when entering new environments, navigate setbacks and rehabilitation, distinguish useful feedback from mental “noise,” and learn to perform even when they don’t feel ready....

What does it take to prepare elite Paralympic athletes to perform at the highest level? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Morgan Blatnik, strength and conditioning coach at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Morgan shares his experience working with the U.S. Men's and Women's National Goalball Teams, coaching visually impaired athlete...

From breaking his arm during PT school to becoming a board-certified specialist working with elite athletes, Brent Rachall's journey is a masterclass in resilience, humility, and lifelong learning. In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon and Brent Rachall explore what separates good clinicians from great ones, why mentorship matters, how rehabilitation is about people—not just protoc...

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with veteran trainer and gym designer John Damon for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to create effective training environments and develop athletes. With decades of experience working with elite athletes, John shares his philosophy on gym design, individualized training, foundational movement, exercise selection...

We’re bringing back a powerful conversation in this Encore Episode of Performance Talk 🎙️ Dr. Ewell Gordon reconnects with Joe Drake—fitness educator and co-founder of a training and performance company based in Boca Raton, Florida—for an in-depth discussion on how exercise science has evolved and where it’s headed. Together, they explore why building a strong foundation is critical for athletic s...

In this episode of The Performance Task, we sit down with JP Echeverria, Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Boston Red Sox, for a deep, honest conversation about what it really means to develop athletes. JP reflects on his first 10 years in the profession—finding his coaching identity, staying in his lane, and shifting from “rah-rah coaching” to an athlete-centered, habit-driven a...

In this powerful and perspective-shifting episode of Performance Talk, host Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Dr. Mike Israetel—renowned sports scientist, professor, co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, and competitive athlete. From high school wrestling roots to academic mastery in performance science, Mike shares his journey through education, self-discovery, and relentless pursuit of truth in train...

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with John Flagg, founder of Rebuild Stronger, to discuss the differences between powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and strongman training. John shares his journey from athletic training to coaching elite strength athletes and how he helps them recover from injuries while maximizing performance. Tune in for expert insights on training, in...

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Dan Pope, a physical therapist and strength coach, to discuss the intersection of strength training and rehab. Dan shares his journey from fitness enthusiast to PT, the misconceptions about strength training in rehabilitation, and how the industry is evolving. 

Episode Overview Join host Dr. Ewell Gordon on this episode of Performance Talk as he welcomes guest, Dr. Steve Nightingale, a sports scientist and performance coach with the NHL's New Jersey Devils. Key Topics Discussed: Steve’s Journey: From being a passionate but not-so-great ice hockey player in England to becoming a performance coach for various international teams. Breaking into Sports Scien...

What does the next era of sports psychology look like? In this special roundtable, Dr. Hillary Cauthen, Dr. Brent Hogarth, and Dr. Eddie O’Connor join Performance Talk to break down where the profession is headed—covering trust-building with coaches and athletes, the rise of the CMPC, and why service, self-awareness, and collaboration are redefining what it means to perform at the highest level.

What happens when elite performance meets real-life resilience? Dr. Amy Athey brings 25+ years of experience—from NCAA programs to Navy SEALs—to Performance Talk with insights on building trust, sustaining peak performance, and leading through service. 🎧

Performance is evolving—and Craig Lane is helping shape the next generation. In this return visit to Performance Talk, Craig unpacks the growing role of sports science, why coaching still matters most, and how confidence, context, and collaboration drive athlete success.

Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Mauricio Elizondo, Director of Sports Medicine at Austin FC to this episode of Performance Talk. With nearly two decades of experience spanning minor league baseball, professional tennis, and now Major League Soccer, Mauricio shares insights into building comprehensive high-performance teams. The conversation explores the evolving relationship between physical therapists...

From soldier to sports psych pro, Dr. Sean Green joins Performance Talk to unpack the powerful intersection of mental strength and physical readiness. In this deep-dive with Ewell Gordon, they explore athlete identity, injury recovery, neuroscience, and why performance is more than just what happens on the field.