Empower Performance Podcast

Today's guest, strength and conditioning coach, Sahana Slack discusses how she programs for, communicates with, leads and inspires female athletes of various ages to perform their very best both physically and mentally. This was a delightful and insightful conversation that covers multiple topics with real world examples and practical takeaways. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as mu...

Today's guest, strength and conditioning coach and combat sports enthusiast, Dustin Lebel discusses how to get the most bang for your buck with your workouts in regarding to enhancing athletic performance, how to balance skill work with gym sessions, the importance of pursuing things you enjoy in life, and more! I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to have such a fun and informative conversati...

Today's guest, strength and conditioning coach, Hunter Saffell discusses how training benefited his college basketball career, his approach to training as a hybrid athlete, the importance of getting outside your comfort zone, and more! This 90-minute conversation was so fun that it easily could've lasted 3 hours. I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording. Please follow Hunter on I...

Today's guest, personal trainer RJ Krauss, discusses the importance of a having a well-rounded training program, the benefits of training for ability rather than just aesthetics, how blending strength and mobility leads to improved resiliency, and more! This episode is full of practical advice for everyone from novice exercise enthusiasts to experienced lifters and competitive athletes. I had...

Today's guest, speed and performance coach Zac Newbell, discusses how to create proper speed training programs, how to teach proper mechanics for acceleration, top speed, and change of direction, the importance of plyometrics for athletic performance, and more! This episode is packed full of incredible information from a highly skilled, experienced, and likeable coach so please give it a liste...

Today's guest, professional soccer rehab & performance trainer Jared Miller, discusses return to play principles for injured athletes, how to microdose training stress in the midst of a congested match schedule, best mental frameworks for physical rehabilitation, the difference of US and European sports/training cultures, and more! It was an absolute blast to get a behind the scenes look of the pr...

Today's guest, strength coach Josh Bray, discusses many practical and scientific aspects to coaching including how to connect with athletes, create team culture, make do with limitations in space or equipment as well as the importance of keeping the adaptation/stimulus in mind over sweating the details when it comes to writing programs. Josh really knows his stuff and I had an absolute blast t...

Today's guests, strength coach Ben Racke and physical therapist Dr. Cody Craig discuss scope of practice in the health and wellness space, the power of the mind in regard to pain perception, how to train in the presence of injury, the benefits of training/competing in combat/contact sports, and more! Please give this episode a listen and give the wonderful guests a follow @benracke & @cody...

Today's guest, Taekwondo black belt and strength coach Philip Ha, discusses his journey with martial arts, how to improve flexibility and mobility, the benefits of cross training, his college studies in mental health counseling, the importance of perspective and word choice, and more! We cover many interesting topics surrounding all facets of health and performance (physical, mental, emotional...

Today's guest, track strength coach, Angie Owens discusses how she approaches gym work for track athletes, why athletes and general population can benefit from speed and power training, the importance of nutrition for health and performance, her knee injury rehab journey, keeping space for fitness after becoming a mom, and more! She has a wide base of knowledge and covered many topics in this...

Today's guest, golf strength coach, Mike Carroll discusses how to improve club head speed, mobility for golf, and more! We go into deep dive discussions on topics like training for performance v. longevity, the best use of training time (strength v. skill work), and general v. specific training methods. Mike is an incredibly knowledgeable coach who has helped many athletes through his training...

Today's guest, former college hockey player and current strength coach Steve Whyte, discusses how his background in special education and sport coaching helped him in his current role, why it's important to teach kids a wide variety of movement skills and keep training fun, and the value of training both "soft" and "hard". We also cover topics like LTAD (long term athle...

Today's guest, health and performance coach, Ishan Hewa discusses topics including supplements, TRT, peptides, ice baths, foam rolling, and more. He explains how he helps clients improve body composition through tracking food, meal timing, and regulating sleep. With his education in molecular biology and neuroscience and his background as a researcher in the supplements industry, he explains s...

My son will be born soon. I've had months to reflect on myself, who I want to be as a father, what I want to teach my son. Here are some pieces of advice that I have for him from my life experience so far. I hope some of the wisdom I have saved for him resonates with you if you choose to give this episode a listen. At the very least, this will be a gift for him for when he is old enough to und...

Today's guests, Ray & Seth Miller, are BJJ black belts, owners, and instructors at Spectrum Jiu Jitsu in Kearneysville, WV. They discuss their journey from white belt to black belt, their coaching philosophy, how they built their business, how they developed their gym's culture, and more! Give this episode a listen and follow their academy @spectrumjiujitsu

In today's episode, host Matthew Monos shares his thoughts on perfectionism v. growth mindset, the balance of nuance, open-mindedness, "optimal training", and more. Give it a listen and please send any questions or topics you'd like to hear about in future episodes!

Today's guest, CrossFit coach Megan Urban, discusses how she first got into CrossFit, some myths surrounding it, the benefits of it, as well as training considerations for pre and post partum mothers. She gives practical advice about sustainability for anyone looking to start their fitness journey, discusses how her athletic training background helps her with her clients in regard to pain and reha...

Today's guest, therapist Megan Klenk, discusses the importance of mental and emotional health in regard to both day-to-day life and athletics. She destigmatizes therapy, busts common myths surrounding the mental health space, provides frameworks and actionable steps for regulating emotions during times of intense stress, and more! Give this episode a listen for insights on how the mind works i...

Today's guest, BJJ strength coach and black belt, Alex Sterner discusses empowerment in the presence of pain and injury, the power of mentality and how it affects perception, lessons he's learned during his 20-year Jiu Jitsu journey, and more! This episode touches on science, philosophy, and more. Give it a listen and follow Alex and his business on Instagram @alex.sterner and @electrum_pe...

In this special roundtable episode of the Empower Performance Podcast, host Matt Monos and guests Ben Racke and Tyler Peretz dive into the nuances of individualized training for athletes. They explore the balance between general and specific training, the importance of maintaining intensity during in-season workouts, and the role of fun and variety in athletic development. The conversation also to...

In this conversation, Emily discusses the critical importance of tracking progress in weightlifting, particularly for women. She emphasizes the need for proper nutrition, specifically protein intake, and the necessity of recording weights used during workouts to ensure continuous improvement. Emily encourages individuals, especially younger women, to push beyond their comfort zones and challenge t...

In this episode of the Empower Performance Podcast, guest and strength and conditioning coach Caleb Hanley discusses his journey and philosophy in training boxers and combat athletes. He emphasizes the importance of tailoring strength and conditioning programs to meet the specific needs of athletes while balancing general conditioning principles. The conversation explores the significance of enjoy...

In this episode of the Empower Performance Podcast, host Matthew Monos interviews unconventional strength coach Pat Damiano. They discuss the concept of unconventional training, focusing on kettlebells and other unique training tools. Pat shares insights on the benefits of mobility, functional movement, and the importance of enjoyment in workouts. They also explore the differences between complexe...

Summary In this episode of the Empower Performance Podcast, Tyler Peretz shares his journey from a non-athletic background to becoming a successful strength and conditioning coach. He discusses the importance of hard work, passion, and mastering the fundamentals in sports training. Tyler emphasizes the balance between strength training and sport-specific skills, the role of athleticism in performa...

In this episode of the Empower Performance Podcast, Brendan McGuigan shares his journey from professional baseball to endurance sports and his evolution as a coach. He discusses the importance of general physical preparedness versus sport-specific training, the concept of minimum effective dose in training, and how he tailors programs to meet the unique needs of each athlete. Brendan also reflects...