Strength Chat

More technology. More data. But does that mean better coaching? This week, experienced strength & conditioning coach Joe Kenn returned to Strength Chat to discuss what really matters when it comes to developing athletes. With decades of experience, Joe shares his perspective on what he believes works, what doesn't, and how coaching has evolved. We discuss: 📊 Proven training methods vs mod...

This week I chatted with Brandon Gallagher, a 2x World Trainer of the Year nominee and trainer of UFC champions. From coaching everyday gym goers to elite level athletes, Brandon has built his career around maintaining high coaching standards and continuously developing his craft. In this episode, we chatted about: 🏆 What defines a high standard of coaching 🧠 How coaches can develop their skills...

This week I welcomed back to Strength Chat Alfred Jong, Co-Founder and Head of Programming & Coaching at Reformance. Coaching cues are one of the most commonly used tools in strength training. But how often do we stop to consider whether the person we're coaching actually understands what we're asking? In this episode, we chatted about: 🗣️ What coaching cues are and how to use them eff...

This week I was joined by Daniel Persson, coach, businessman, husband and dad. After leaving a career in finance to pursue coaching, Daniel has developed an approach built around mindset, identity and getting the best out of the people he works with. In this episode, we chatted about: 🧠 The 3 shifts Daniel made that changed his approach to coaching ⚖️ Finding his identity while navigating coachin...

This week I chatted with Woody Horler, Personal Trainer at JPS Health & Fitness. With similar backgrounds in university education, coaching in the UK and abroad, and completing the JPS Mentorship, Woody and I explore what it really takes to become a better coach. Because having knowledge is one thing. Knowing how to apply it to the person standing in front of you is another. We chatted about:...

This week I was joined by Kandace Hudspeth, Chief Marketing Officer for OPEX Fitness and CoachRX. Marketing your coaching business can quickly become overwhelming. Should you post more? Follow trends? Chase followers? Or ignore all of that and focus elsewhere? Kandace brings years of experience in fitness marketing to cut through the noise and focus on what actually helps coaches build successful...

This week I welcomed back returning guest, and now Ironman, Nicola Buchan. The last time Nicola was on the podcast, we spoke about helping people step outside their comfort zone in the gym. Since then, she’s taken that philosophy a LOT further and completed an Ironman. In this episode, we chatted about: 🧠 The mindset behind deciding to take on an Ironman ⚖️ How Nicola balanced her life, business...

This week I chatted with the current Natural Strongman European Champion and 4x Armed Forces Strongest Man, Rhys Calland. Since entering strongman, Rhys has progressed all the way to competing against some of the best athletes in the world, all while balancing training and competition with a full time military career. In this episode, we chatted about: 🏆 Rhys’ progression through strongman 🪖 Bal...

This week I chatted with former US national discus champion and 2024 weightlifting Olympian Mary Theisen-Lappen. Strength training had always been part of Mary’s life as an elite athlete, but what happens when lifting weights goes from supporting your sport to becoming the sport you're competing in? In this episode, Mary shares her story about transitioning from track & field to weightlift...

This week I chatted with Paris 2024 Olympic Bronze medallist and clean & jerk world record holder, Hampton Morris. Hampton has already achieved an incredible amount in weightlifting, so it was great to get a behind-the-scenes look at what life is actually like as a full-time athlete competing at the highest level. In this episode, we chatted about: 🏋️ How Hampton trains and how his approach ha...

This week I caught up with returning guests Sam Schepis and Martin Refalo from JPS Health & Fitness and JPS Education. I’ve chatted with Sam and Martin on Strength Chat separately, so it was great to bring them together and talk about how coaches can continue developing beyond their initial qualifications. We chatted about: 🎓 How JPS Education came to life 🧠 The gaps they see in traditional...

This week I chatted with Mike Gattone, Senior Director of Sports Performance for USA Weightlifting. Mike has been involved in weightlifting since 1980 and has also held positions with the Chicago Bulls and US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. In this episode, we dive into more than four decades of experience to chat about: 🏋️ How weightlifting has changed over the years 🥇 The recipe for becomin...

This week I got the opportunity to chat with Doctor of Physical Therapy and coach Dr. Justin Farnsworth, who has over 20 years of experience across high performance sport and general fitness. Justin has a huge amount of knowledge and experience, but what stands out is his ability to communicate it without making things more complicated than they need to be. In this episode, we chatted about: 🧠 Ho...

This week I was joined by multi-sport strength athlete and coach Joey Szatmary, who has competed across CrossFit, Strongman and Weightlifting. With years of experience getting strong and helping others do the same, Joey knows that effective strength training doesn't have to leave you constantly feeling beaten up. We chatted about: 💪 What getting strong actually looks like ⚠️ The common mistak...

This week I chatted with nutrition coach and creator of Four Weeks to the Beach, Aram Grigorian. After following Aram's content for some time, it was great to finally discuss what really drives fat loss and why so many people struggle despite working hard. This isn't about another diet. It's about understanding the principles that actually produce lasting results. In this episode, we c...

This week I welcomed back to Strength Chat a great coach and a top bloke, Ben Wright. Every time we chat, the conversation comes back to one thing: lasting results don't come from perfect programmes, they come from repeatable systems. In this episode, we explore what it really takes to stay consistent, overcome setbacks, and create habits that stick. We cover: ✅ Building systems that make con...

This week I chatted with Dr. J’aime Goguen-Locke, powerlifter, gymnast, and Chiropractic Physician. J’aime combines her clinical background with her experience in strength sports, giving her a unique perspective on helping lifters manage pain, recover from injuries, and continue making progress. In this episode, we chatted about: 🏋️ How to make rehab efficient instead of time-consuming 🔄 Pain-fre...

This week chatted with Dino Portelli, Head Coach at Titan Fitness Thailand, with a background in Muay Thai, bodybuilding, and military training. Dino leads by example when it comes to health and fitness. His consistency and discipline are obvious, but this conversation goes beyond motivation and explores what it really takes to keep moving forward when life gets challenging. In this episode, we co...

This week chatted with Dr. Caleb Burgess, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Orthopaedic Specialist, and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. One of Caleb's missions is to move away from the outdated idea that pain, injury, and rehab are black and white. Instead, he focuses on helping people better understand their situation, communicate effectively, and make progress with confidence. In...

This week I caught up with coach, mentor, and educator Paul Oneid. A lot has changed since our last chat, making this the perfect opportunity to discuss identity, mindset, injuries, and how we move forward when life doesn't go to plan. This episode is about more than training. It's about understanding who you are when something you love is taken away from you, and how to come back stronger...

This week I sat down with Dr. Katie Dabrowski, Physical Therapist, Strength Coach, and Co-Founder of Old Bull Athletics. Training is about far more than adding weight to the bar or improving performance in the gym. Done well, it can improve your health, confidence, resilience, and quality of life. In this episode, we discuss: 🏋️ Why training should be viewed as healthcare 🧠 Why people avoid certa...

This week I chatted with strength coach Chrissy Hayes. With over 10 years of experience, a background across different training styles, recovering from injuries and operations, and balancing training with motherhood, Chrissy brings a realistic and refreshing perspective to fitness. In this episode, we talk about moving away from the idea that there’s only one “right” way to train, and instead focu...

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with gym business consultant, gym owner, and international speaker Mark Fisher. Mark is a legend in the gym industry. He founded Mark Fisher Fitness, which was named one of Men’s Health Top 20 Gyms in America, and now helps gym owners scale their businesses, increase profits, and improve their leadership skills. In this episode, we talk about what it re...

This week I was joined by strength coach for women, Alexandra Bernardin. With so much content online telling people what “healthy” should look like, it can be hard to know what actually matters. In this episode, we talk about cutting through the noise and building a more realistic, useful, and sustainable view of health. We cover: 🧠 What “healthy” actually means ⚠️ Common mistakes people make whe...

“The mountain doesn’t care.”  This week I was joined by Jay Jones, Founder of Next Level 360 Performance, Level 3 Pre-Script coach, and US Marine.  Jay speaks from experience, both coaching and competing, which makes this episode packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately.  In this episode we cover:  ⛰️ Why “the mountain doesn’t care”  🎯 Working hard vs working with purpose  🏋️ Build...