LTB Podcast

How much programming is too much programming? In this episode, Claire and Maggie unpack their evolving approaches to personal training programming, from overcomplicated plans and periodisation spreadsheets to flexible, client-centred frameworks that actually work in the real world. They explore the balance between structure and adaptability, why general population clients need a different approach...

  In this episode, Claire and Maggie discuss eating disorders and disordered eating, including the often-overlooked intersection between the fitness industry and eating disorders. Maggie shares insights from her new course for personal trainers, breaking down the spectrum from diagnosable conditions like anorexia and bulimia to more subtle forms of disordered eating. Together, they unpack how well...

In this episode, Claire sits down with Ben Jones, a personal trainer with 17 years of experience, to explore his journey from gym owner to running a thriving one-to-one coaching business from a small training space in Hertfordshire. Ben shares why he stepped away from the pressures of managing a successful fitness studio to focus on what he loves most, helping clients achieve life-changing results...

In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how personal trainers can better support clients with undiagnosed ADHD and other neurodivergent traits. They unpack the barriers to formal diagnosis and explain why many clients may never use clinical labels, even when they relate to the symptoms. The conversation highlights how ADHD often presents differently in women, particularly during perimenopause,...

In this episode of LTB Podcast, Claire and Maggie unpack how constant comparison within the fitness industry fuels imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and indecision. They explore how trainers absorb unrealistic "shoulds" from peers and marketing, leading to overthinking and a loss of confidence. Sharing practical strategies, they encourage trainers to refocus on their own clients, values, and prioriti...

In this episode Claire and Maggie explore what it really means to take a trauma‑informed approach to coaching in fitness spaces. They unpack how assuming every client may carry some form of past trauma shifts the focus from "fixing" individuals to creating environments that feel safe, supportive, and empowering for everyone. Claire and Maggie also discuss how to recognise signs of discomfort, resp...

In this episode, Claire sits down with Maggie to unpack the realities of setting up and running a Community Interest Company (CIC) as a personal trainer. Maggie shares what a CIC actually is, why she chose this route, and how it's allowed her to deliver meaningful, community‑focused work alongside a sustainable business model. They explore the practical side of getting started, from choosing direc...

Claire and Maggie explore how personal trainers can coach runners more effectively, whether they're complete beginners or chasing a new PB. You'll hear practical frameworks for building a runner from the ground up (progressions, run–walk intervals, technique cues, and effort-based pacing), plus how to layer in energy-system work, hills/sprints, and strength training without compromising run qualit...

Hayley Simpson, known locally as the Yoga Lady, has built something genuinely special in Prestwich, North Manchester. Her Ofsted-registered kids holiday clubs bring together movement, play, and a whole lot of joy, and in this episode she pulls back the curtain on exactly how she did it. Maggie sits down with Hayley to trace the journey from running a yoga business to creating a holiday provision t...

Does cycle syncing actually improve training outcomes or is it being oversold? In this episode, Claire and Maggie dig into the science and real‑world realities of menstrual cycles and training. They explore what the research really says (including why many cycle‑based programming claims don't hold up), while also recognising that lived experience, symptoms, and perception still matter in the gym....

The Problem of Perfect explores why striving to "do it all right" in fitness coaching can sometimes do more harm than good. Claire and Maggie unpack the difference between healthy conscientiousness and unhelpful perfectionism, looking at how rigid rules, all‑or‑nothing thinking, and self‑criticism can impact both trainers and clients. This episode offers practical ways for personal trainers to rec...

In this episode, Claire speaks with Maggie about what weight‑neutral coaching really looks like in practice. They explore how moving away from weight‑centric fitness shifts the focus toward function, joy, and client autonomy, and why this approach can create safer, more inclusive coaching environments. Maggie shares her journey transitioning to weight‑neutral coaching, practical changes personal t...

Claire and Maggie explore anti‑glycolytic training, a high‑intensity, high‑rest approach rooted in Soviet sport science, and why avoiding the burn can lead to better endurance, recovery, and long‑term results.   Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website:  https://liftthebar.com/  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar

In this episode, Maggie sits down with Caroline, physiotherapist and founder of Rebalance Physiotherapy, a mobile and care home practice serving South Manchester, Cheshire, and Derbyshire. Caroline works with some of the most complex client presentations in the field, incl neurological conditions, frailty, post-hospital rehabilitation, and falls prevention, delivering high-quality physio in people...

In this episode, Maggie and Claire explore what belonging really looks like in personal training. They discuss how trainers can create connection through listening, language, and intentional culture‑setting, without forcing community or relying on surface‑level friendliness. Drawing on real coaching examples and behavioural science, the conversation unpacks the difference between interpersonal and...

What does it take to lift over 23,834kg in a single hour? We're joined by world-record holder and personal trainer Megan Kelly to discuss the mental and physical grit required to achieve a Guiness World Record. But this isn't just a talk about stats; it's a deep dive into the heart of coaching. Megan opens up about the resilience she gained from her successful and "failed" record attempts, her jou...

In this episode, Claire chats with Steffie Murray to explore her journey as a competitive strongwoman, from discovering the sport to becoming Scotland's Strongest Woman, Britain's Strongest Woman, and finishing second in the world. Steffie shares what drew her to strongman competition, the variety of events that keep her motivated, and how the sport has transformed her confidence, discipline and r...

What is it actually like to be on the receiving end of our coaching? To find out, we've flipped the script. In this episode, Maggie sits down with three of her own client s, Mara, Helen, and Eleanor, to get the unvarnished truth from the gym floor. From the initial nerves of walking into a gym to the specific things a coach does that build (or break) trust, these women share their honest experienc...

What if your personal training business was guided by your values, not just trends or tactics? In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how clearly defined values can act as a compass for decision making, client relationships, pricing, policies, and team culture. Drawing on real examples from Maggie's studio, they discuss how values like community, joy, and confidence show up in day‑to‑day opera...

Claire chats with  Pete Yardley Patel about his personal training career.   Pete qualified 13 years ago and has built a sustainable business in a commercial gym and it is brilliant to hear about his   long term success in an environment which can sometimes be seen as a short term stepping stone   Find Pete: @peteyardley.hf Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website:  https://liftthebar.com/  Inst...

Why do some clients struggle to achieve results despite having the 'perfect' plan? In this episode, we step outside the gym bubble to talk with Dr.  Dharm i Kapadia from the University of Manchester. We dive into the systemic, social, and environmental barriers that personal training qualifications often overlook. Dr. Kapadia shares her vital research on how the chronic stress of racism and stigma...

·         Claire chats with weight loss coach and personal trainer Simon Graham about how starting sport later in life led him to become a personal trainer and continues to shape the way he coaches people with more athletic or sports focused goals.  From fuelling strategies and periodised training plans to balancing resistance work with endurance sports, Simon shares practical tips for building st...

Maggie and Claire chat about behaviour change and relevant models to support it in clients. Exploring how individual capabilities, both physical and psychological, influence a person's ability to change, as well as the importance of identifying and addressing environmental and social opportunities that either support or hinder behavior change. Members can access more on the member site including t...

·         Claire chats with Dani from Curious Fitness to explore the art of training clients with injuries and niggles. From integrating prehab and rehab into regular sessions to fostering trust through clear communication, they share practical strategies and personal insights from their experiences of their own injuries. Discover how creativity, empathy, and experience shape effective programming...

Maggie chats with personal trainer and mother  Elle Brown to explore what it really means to help clients "find their movement groove" in a world that often makes that far more complicated than it needs to be.   Together, they dig into: The role running has played in  Elle 's life and how her relationship with movement has evolved The intersection of fitness, motherhood, identity and societal expe...