New Wave Certified

New Wave Performance is entering a new era. John opens Episode 24 by celebrating the incredible accomplishments of New Wave athletes, including national champion Cyrus Courtney, and shares what these victories say about the work being done every day inside the facility. From there, John provides exciting updates on the future of New Wave Performance, including hiring the company's first employ...

In Episode 23 of New Wave Certified, John Larkin takes you inside the power of a true plyometric system — and the results speak for themselves. John opens the episode sharing real client stories, including how one athlete shattered a personal record immediately after getting challenged to lock in. These moments highlight what happens when preparation, coaching, and effort collide. From there, John...

In Episode 22 of New Wave Certified, John Larkin dives into the real work that happens when the lights go out — the off-season grind. He breaks down how to build your blueprint for success, from creating structured plans to setting goals that actually lead to results. John highlights the current leaders in New Wave’s In-Season and Out-of Season programs and what they’re doing to separate themselve...

In Episode 21 of New Wave Certified, John Larkin closes out the Iowa high school football regular season with a full Week 9 recap and a look ahead at which local teams are heading into the playoffs. From standout performances to clutch moments, John breaks down what separates good programs from great ones — and how that same mindset drives success at New Wave Performance. This week, John takes a d...

In Episode 20 of New Wave Certified, John Larkin brings it all together as the Iowa high school football regular season hits its final week. He recaps the hard-fought Week 8 matchup between Iowa City West and Cedar Rapids Prairie, then previews Week 9, where top-ranked teams battle for playoff positioning and a shot at championship glory. But this episode is about more than stats and scores — it’s...

In Episode 19 of New Wave Certified, John brings the energy once again — breaking down a dominant 50–14 win from Center Point-Urbana and previewing a massive Week 8 showdown between two ranked opponents. But before the Xs and Os, John dives into New Wave’s brand-new plyometric training program, explaining how explosive movement, proper recovery, and mindset can separate average athletes from the e...

In Episode 18 of New Wave Certified, John Larkin dives deep into a powerful concept every athlete, trainer, and coach needs to understand — periodization. With only two weeks left before playoffs, John breaks down why it’s not enough to stick to sport-specific workouts year-round and how strategic planning during the off-season can elevate performance. Then, he recaps Week 6, highlighting Xavier’s...

In Episode 17 of New Wave Certified, John Larkin breaks down all the action from Week 5 of Iowa high school football and previews what’s ahead in Week 6. But this week, he goes beyond the scoreboard — John shares valuable insight on how athletes, parents, and coaches can work together to keep players healthy, focused, and prepared for the playoff push. He also shines a spotlight on his nonprofit,...

Episode 16 of New Wave Certified brings a full breakdown of Week 4 in Iowa high school football—big plays, standout performers, and where John was right (and wrong) in last week’s predictions. As always, he looks ahead to Week 5 matchups, spotlighting the athletes and teams poised to make an impact under the Friday night lights. But this episode takes things a step further. John dives into the wor...

Episode 15 of New Wave Certified is packed with football energy from start to finish! John kicks things off by breaking down the Week 3 showdown between Cedar Rapids Xavier and Clear Creek Amana (CCA) — what went right, what went wrong, and who made the biggest impact under the Friday night lights. Looking ahead, he previews the must-watch Week 4 matchups and highlights the athletes to keep an eye...

In Episode 14 of New Wave Certified, John dives deep into Week 3 of Iowa High School Football. He kicks things off by revisiting last week’s action—breaking down the predictions he nailed, the ones that didn’t go as planned, and the standout players who made the biggest impact under the Friday night lights. Then, John shifts gears to preview this week’s slate of games, offering insights on key mat...

We look back at last week’s Jefferson vs Washington matchup: how the game flowed, where we were right and wrong, and what it means for both programs moving forward. Then we turn our focus to Week 2: Kennedy vs Prairie—a matchup 5+ years in the making. We break down the key storylines, the players to watch, and what to expect when these Cedar Rapids powerhouses collide. 🎙 Hosted by John Larkin, fou...

In this week’s episode of New Wave Certified, John takes a deep dive into the matchups that matter most. We break down two of the biggest upcoming high school football games and spotlight two college programs making noise this season. But it doesn’t stop there—John also shares exciting updates on upcoming training opportunities through New Wave Performance and gives listeners a look inside the non...

Every great journey starts small—and in this episode of New Wave Certified, John opens up about the importance of humble beginnings, pushing through adversity, and never losing sight of the bigger picture. 💪🌊We dive into what’s next for New Wave Performance, how branding plays a crucial role in shaping both athletes and businesses, and why perseverance is the secret ingredient that separates goo...

In this episode of New Wave Certified, John sits down with a special guest! His name is Gabe Rummel, a mental performance coach based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa who works with athletes to unlock their full potential from the inside out. We often hear about strength training, drills, and game strategy, but elite performance starts in the mind. Mental resilience, focus under pressure, and the ability to...

In this episode of New Wave Certified, John takes you inside the world of high-performance training and reveals why the off-season is where champions are truly made. While many athletes slow down when the games stop, the best use this time to sharpen skills, build strength, and prepare their minds for the challenges ahead. John breaks down the science and strategy behind elite off-season programs,...

In this episode of the New Wave Certified podcast, host John Larkin sits down with NWP athletes Davarion harris and J'Quari Willis, a wide receiver and tight end both from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Fresh off their return from their first year of college, they share firsthand insights into the challenges and lessons learned transitioning from high school to collegiate...

In this episode of the New Wave Certified Podcast, Host John Larkin sits down with Cyrus Courtney, a wide-receiver from Cedar Rapids, Iowa who currently attends Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In this podcast episode, Cyrus breaks down the importance of consistency and hard work in the off-season to get to the next level. He also drops some major gems you are not going to w...

In this episode of the New Wave Certified podcast, host John Larkin sits down with Naeem Smith. He is the owner of GLDN (A sales agency company) and former JUCO All-American at Ellsworth Community College and a D1 Stand out at Rice University where he played DB and safety. In this episode, Naeem talks about his come up story and the difference between coaching staff at all the levels. As Naeem say...

In this episode of the New Wave Certified podcast, host John Larkin sits down with NWP athlete Apollo Payne, wide reciver from The University of Iowa. Fresh off his return from college, Miles shares his come up story, getting his first college ball offer at a Mega camp, and lessons he learned in his first year of collegiate FBS D1 football. From earning playing time to the significance of faith an...

In this episode of the New Wave Certified podcast, host John Larkin sits down with the producer of the New Wave Certified Podcast Darshaun Smith. He is the owner of a local production company here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and shares his social media insights both for business owners and athletes trying to grow their brands. This is a conversation you are not going to want to miss! Darshaun offers val...

In this episode of the New Wave Certified podcast, host John Larkin sits down with NWP athlete Miles Thompson, defensive back from Northern Illinois University. Miles is also known for holding the all-time record for the 100m dash in the state Iowa. Fresh off his return from college, Miles shares firsthand insights into his transfer portal jouney and lessons learned transitioning from high school...

In this episode of the  New Wave Certified  podcast, host John Larkin sits down with NWP athletes Lonny Melvin Jr. and Dionte Fliss, both wide receivers at Upper Iowa University. Fresh off their return from college, they share firsthand insights into the challenges and lessons learned transitioning from high school to collegiate football. From earning playing time to the significance of faith and...

In our first-ever episode, we get straight to it. Host John Larkin breaks down why New Wave Certified exists, what athletes and leaders can expect, and why New Wave Performance is raising the standard for development. We announce the winners of our $2,000 Summer Scholarship Program—giving two athletes full access to the best offseason training in the state. We also pull back the curtain on the sel...