Cillian O’Connor

Philosophy of Strength

Health EN ↓ 139 episodes

Personal trainer Cill O’Connor delves into all things strength training and the philosophy behind living a strong life.

Author

Cillian O’Connor

Category

Health

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Jun 11, 2026

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Episodes

#139 Rick Nally and I answer your questions 11.06.2026

Rick and I answer your questions on strength and conditioning, nutrition, running, hybrid training, and pain and injury. Coaching for Non-Influencers seminar: https://mailchi.mp/2c814065f78b/coaching-for-non-influencers

#138 Dave Hagerty talks high performance in your thirties 19.05.2026

Myself and Dave delve into the keys to enjoying and succeeding with your training in your thirties and beyond - plus some general philosophical discussion about life. Make sure to follow Dave on Instagram @dr.dave.strengthandkindness

#137 Tony Gentilcore on writing, simple training, and nuance in fitness. 13.05.2026

Tony Gentilcore is a highly experienced coach who has worked with athletes and general population to get them stronger and out of pain. He is well known in particular for his writing through both articles and books in the fitness space that help people get the most from their training. Use coupon code 'PHILOSOPHY' to get $100 off the Complete Fit Pro Blueprint workshop in Dublin on October...

#136 Dean Somerset on how to succeed in coaching 22.04.2026

In this episode I’m joined by Dean Somerset to break down what actually leads to success as a coach. We talk about why coaches get stuck, the gap between theory and real-world coaching, and what to focus on if you want to build a career that lasts. Use coupon code 'PHILOSOPHY' to get $100 off the Complete Fit Pro Blueprint workshop in Dublin on October 3rd-4th. Visit the site here: https:/...

#135 Melody Schoenfeld talks vegan diet myths, strongman, AI in fitness, and more. 07.04.2026

Melody Schoenfeld has over 30 years coaching experience and has been voted NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year in 2019. In this episode we discuss vegan diet myths, strongman for average joes, AI in the fitness industry, and the industry's tactic of making women feel insecure to sell products. Follow Melody on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5ftoffury1/

#134 Compound vs isolation exercises: how to use them properly 28.03.2026

I break down the difference between compound and isolation exercises, and more importantly, how to actually use them in your training. We’ll cover what each type of exercise is good for, the common mistakes people make, and how to structure your sessions so you’re not wasting time on things that don’t move the needle. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should be doing more “big lifts” or more tar...

#133 Reddit Rambles 14: Doing everything right but no progress, convincing your significant other to get healthy, and how to measure muscle gain. 10.03.2026

Interested in working with me? https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfylhlG-Ojte0w5NAnDIR6RW0MQdxUVlizR3Wb72dz9Og-wBA/viewform?usp=header

#132 Reddit Rambles 12: Stalling on overhead press, gaining weight after starting training, and waking in the middle of the night. 23.02.2026

Apply for a coaching consultation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfylhlG-Ojte0w5NAnDIR6RW0MQdxUVlizR3Wb72dz9Og-wBA/viewform?usp=header

#131 Why the smartest people need the simplest plans. 09.12.2025

A lot of smart people struggle with lifting because they overthink every decision. They try to optimise the perfect plan, jump between programmes, and end up making no real progress. In this episode, I break down why overthinking happens and what actually matters for getting stronger. You’ll learn the common traps, the basics that never change, and a simple framework you can follow to train with c...

#130: Reddit Rambles 11: Proper gym clothing, back strength imbalances, and lack of motivation. 18.11.2025

Online coaching information: https://mailchi.mp/9cb0bf374e72/online-coaching

#129 Reddit Ramble 10: Non-linear bench progress, intermediate strength standards, and 'suboptimal' training splits. 31.10.2025

In Reddit Rambles, I answer questions from the various fitness-related subreddits. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend!

#128 From first client to full-time coach: our path to online coaching, and business tips 16.10.2025

In this episode, myself and Rick Nally dive into how we landed our very first coaching jobs, navigated the ups and downs of the fitness industry, and ultimately made the leap to full-time online coaching. Tune in for candid stories and the essential business lessons we've learned along the way. Newsletter sign-up for Beyond The Textbook early bird access: https://mailchi.mp/fe5aa1452f25/subscr...

#127 The pros and cons of sport science education and strength and conditioning, with Rick Nally 09.10.2025

Myself and fellow online coach Rick Nally reflect on our younger years in sport science education and strength and conditioning - and whether it was useful for becoming professional coaches.

#126 Not every season is a peak: lifting when life gets messy. 06.10.2025

What if your best training week isn’t the one where you hit a PB… but the one where you didn’t quit? In this episode, I explore what progress looks like for me when life is messy and my results are subpar.

#125 Maximising strength on a two-day schedule - how to make full-body training work for your busy life 24.09.2025

Think two days a week isn’t enough to get strong? Think again. In this episode I break down how to build a full-body program on just two days per week, why it actually works better than you’d think, and the key mistakes to avoid. I’ll share real client examples, outline a sample structure, and show you how to make serious progress even with a busy schedule.

#124 Reddit rambles 9: Toning, S&C for BJJ, and plateaus. 22.09.2025

Book your free coaching consult here: https://calendly.com/cill-cillianoconnor/consultation

#123 How to form healthy habits 13.09.2025

In this podcast I discuss: - Why habits are so important - Why we struggle with them so much - What types of habits to choose - The strategies that allow us to succeed Book a call to see if I could help you finally nail your habits to reach your goals: https://calendly.com/cill-cillianoconnor/consultation

#122 Reddit Rambles 8: Is incline bench vs flat, figuring out your fiber type, and the best beginner split. 06.09.2025

Book a free coaching consult with me: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyCWJ7qHqFpoOKYDiEkU1ihERxpQGLzN1tXT0e33ppVuHx_A/viewform

#121 Why this coach got coached: the strength gains he never expected. 26.08.2025

Cheyne is an exercise physiologist, coach, and fellow metalhead who came to me looking for help taking the mental load of programming off his plate, balancing training with work and life, and becoming a better coach for his own clients. In this episode, we dive into how we got him progressing without burning out, the huge strength gains he’s made, and what he learned about pushing his limits when...

#120 How to become an online coach 18.08.2025

I break down the important things to consider for getting into online coaching

#119 I attempted a nuzlocke of Pokemon Fire Red 22.07.2025

Nuzlockes are a specific challenge designed to make the Pokemon games more challenging. The rules are pretty simple: 1. If a Pokemon faints, it's considered dead / not usable again 2. You may only catch the first Pokemon you meet on each route 3. You must nickname every Pokemon If you've done this before or had any thoughts on the episode, let me know!

#118 Reddit Rambles 7 - Being weak at curls, starting weight for deadlifts, and elbow pain on tricep work. 08.07.2025

Book an online coaching consultation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyCWJ7qHqFpoOKYDiEkU1ihERxpQGLzN1tXT0e33ppVuHx_A/viewform

#117 Award-winning coach Conor Galgey on the 5 habits of successful trainers 01.07.2025

Book a free consultation: https://calendly.com/cill-cillianoconnor/consultation

#116 Alex Sterner on training with pain, S&C for jiu jitsu, and science-based clickbait 21.06.2025

Get your free copy of The Plateau Breaking Bible by signing up to the newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/fe5aa1452f25/subscribenow

#115 Gym etiquette 101: Stop being THAT person 10.06.2025

Book a consultation for online coaching with me: https://calendly.com/cill-cillianoconnor/consultation

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