Decoding Excellence

In this  Cardio Talk  episode of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I break down how most coaches misuse wearable technology and workload monitoring — turning valuable data into noise instead of insight. Through a detailed  return-to-play case study , I walk step-by-step through how I assess individual loading, bridge the gap back to team inclusion, and structure training progressions that actually t...

In this  Cardio Talk  episode of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I unpack five conversations that bridge technology, nutrition, and training as we head into the start of the college basketball season. First, in this week’s  Status Update , I share how we’re just three days away from tipping off the season and reflect on the journey that’s led us here. From spring development work to summer grind s...

In this  Cardio Talk  episode of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I unpack three powerful conversations shaping coaching, performance, and personal growth. First, I reflect on the  passing of Coach Kurt Hester , a true icon in Strength and Conditioning. His career embodied grit, resilience, and authenticity—and his legacy challenges all of us to coach with more heart, purpose, and conviction. Next,...

In this raw and unfiltered  Cardio Talk  edition of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I dive into two topics that are reshaping the way we think about performance in college athletics. First up: The Evolution of Women’s Basketball Training.  The women’s game has grown more physical, more explosive, and more demanding than ever before. Yet too often, strength coaches still program light, cautious wor...

In this  Cardio Talk  edition of the Decoding Excellence Show, I hit on three big topics for strength & conditioning coaches: 1️⃣  Building Trust with Sport Coaches  — How we can better align with head coaches by speaking their language, framing data around outcomes, and respecting practice priorities. 2️⃣  Rethinking Recovery in College Athletics  — Why recovery is more than ice baths and Nor...

In this “Cardio Series” edition of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I’m bringing you along on a 75-minute ruck walk to share a critical update: introducing  The Blueprint —our forever FREE community on Instagram and AdamRingler.com. Inside  The Blueprint , I’ll be sharing strength & conditioning tactics, performance insights, sport science strategies, and behind-the-scenes access to health opti...

In this “Cardio Talk” edition of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I’m diving into pre-season basketball conditioning tests—and why different coaches lean on very different approaches. Some favor more  aerobic-based tests  like the mile run or 3-minute baseline touches, while others prefer  anaerobic measures  like side-line touches or the 300-yard shuttle. Both approaches have their place, but whic...

In this “Cardio Chats” edition of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I’m sharing why I’m so fired up about using the Beyond Power VOLTRA1 strength equipment here in Boulder, Colorado—and why it’s quickly becoming one of my go-to tools for strength, rehab, and performance. Recorded mid-Zone 2 ruck walk, this raw, unedited “Walk & Talk” dives into exactly how I’ve been leveraging the VOLTRA1 for: A...

In this “Cardio Chats” edition of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I’m pulling back the curtain on our  Summer Basketball Training Program  here in Boulder, Colorado—sharing the real behind-the-scenes details of how we prepare our athletes for the demands of a long, grueling season. This is raw, unfiltered, and recorded mid-Zone 2 ruck walk—no studio, no edits—just me sharing what’s really happenin...

In this episode of  The Decoding Excellence Show , I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to hire the right person to lead a collegiate strength & conditioning or sport performance department. After nearly a decade at the University of Colorado—contributing to a sport science and high performance model while working with Women’s Basketball and Volleyball—I’ve seen firsthand what...

In this Cardio Talks episode of The Decoding Excellence Show , I’m breaking down one of the most overlooked threats to athlete recovery: late-night screen time and blue light exposure . Whether you're a performance coach, sport scientist, or former athlete trying to stay sharp—this conversation cuts into the heart of why your HRV, deep sleep, and overall recovery metrics might be lagging. We&#...

In this special “Cardio Chats” edition of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I’m hitting record during one of my Zone 2 ruck walks—raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart. No fancy studio. No edits. Just the real thoughts running through my head while I’m moving my body and reflecting on the work we do in Strength and Conditioning, Sports Science, and High Performance Coaching. This isn’t script...

In this episode of the  Decoding Excellence Show , I’m sharing a solo Q&A I originally recorded for the Former Athlete Society. Whether you're freshly out of sport or years removed, this one cuts deep into what really matters: rebuilding discipline, identity, and structure after athletics. I break down four of the most common (and crucial) questions I hear from former athletes navigating l...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I'm sharing a handful of the things that have been grabbing my attention lately—from what I'm reading to what I'm watching, buying, doing, and listening to. We’re talking about Dan John’s new book  The ABCs (and Fs) of Strength Training  and how  Easy Strength  changed my approach early in my coaching career. I’ll break down a recent Fl...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I’m diving into the intricacies of workload monitoring and athlete preparation, particularly for basketball players. From managing training on the road to adapting workouts to fit within the constraints of a packed game schedule, I break down the strategies we’re using to keep athletes performing at their best. Episode Highlights: The challenges of...

‌In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show, I'm discussing the rapidly changing landscape of collegiate athletics. From NIL deals and the Transfer Portal to the monumental implications of the House v. NCAA settlement, I explore how these seismic shifts are impacting athletic departments across the nation. As a reminder, our Random Shows shows are a quick 15-30 minute episode where I typi...

Episode Description: In this episode, I delve into my recent article, Advice I'd Love to Give Myself 15 Years Ago , inspired by conversations with young strength and conditioning interns. Join me as I discuss the article and add some personal commentary. Episode Highlights: Discussion of current advice I give interns How to embrace difficult times with action & honesty Insights into financ...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I'm discussing my recent article 10 Hard Truths for Coaching in the World of Athletics . This was an article I wrote off the backend of several conversations with young strength and conditioning interns. This show narrates the article while adding some author commentary. As a reminder, our Random Shows shows are a quick 30 minute episode where...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I'm discussing how we utilize Workload Monitoring across our basketball performance. We discuss weekly periodization models, basketball-specific movement metrics, acceleration vs. deceleration loads, and how you can take principles of wearable workload monitoring for basketball and apply it to your environment. If you've been interested in utilizin...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I'm discussing how we utilize Isometric Training across our performance benchmarking & testing, strength and conditioning programming, and several of the technologies we use to collect this information. If you've been interested in utilizing isometric testing in your pre-participation athlete profiling or sports performance training, this is th...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I'm discussing some of the new things we're doing around University of Colorado Boulder. It's been some time since I've been behind the microphone and I'm just dusting off the thing. We talk about some of the new technologies we're utilizing within our athletic department, some of the new pre-participation athlete benchmarking we're conducting, and...

‌In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I'm discussing the all too common debate between sport science and performance coaching. To be fair, it is a common debate I hear often between the pure academic sport scientists and strength and conditioning coaches "in the field". In this Random Episode , I dive into this debate between an evidence-led, sport science, data-driven decision model...

‌In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show , I'm discussing an issue I hear too often regarding sport science and it's applied nature within high performance sport. I outline a typical day and the many touchpoints with sport science, data-led decision making, and the applied nature of scientific processes on sport outcomes. This was a fun episode to record because I get on a roll talking abo...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show, I'm speaking with Jim Garofalo , Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for KINEXON. This show is a first as we begin to spotlight innovative companies who are leading the sports performance industry. On the show, we discuss Jim's background, his role at KINEXON, the specific company's vision and market scope for wearable technologies, the...

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show, I'm speaking with Industry Veteran and High Performance Practitioner, Dan Howells . Dan has experience at US Ski & Snowboard, the English Institute of Sport (EIS), Rugby Union and Rugby 7s, and most recently, in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Houston Astros organization. You do not want to miss this show! Dan recently formed Collaborate Sports...