The Judd Lienhard Podcast

This is Best Of 2025 (Part 1) — a look back at some of the conversations and ideas that shaped how I thought about training, performance, and athletic development over the past year. This episode features selected clips from podcast conversations with Thomas DeLauer, Ben Patrick, John Welbourn, Brad Dunn, Adriell Mayes, Gabby Reece, Dr. Trevor Bachmeyer, and Daniel Back . Each of these discussions...

In this rapid-fire Q&A episode, Judd Lienhard shares the best lesson he took from football —a simple framework that applies to lifting, rehab, performance, and life: Patience. Angles. Aggression. Be patient and let the play develop, take the right angle with a smart plan, then finish with relentless execution. From there, Judd and Mia rip through listener questions on periodization (why consis...

Are gym machines “non-functional”? No. They’re a tool, and if you’re avoiding them out of dogma, you’re limiting your results. In this episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down why gym machines build real strength, muscle, and performance , and why the idea that machines are inferior to free weights doesn’t hold up under basic biomechanics, force production, or real-world coaching. Judd explains when fre...

In this Q&A episode, Judd addresses common training questions using the same principles he applies with athletes and clients . Topics include how to get back into training after time off , how to build a strong hinge with back pain , and what to consider when dealing with sciatica . Judd also breaks down push/pull/legs programming , how long to run a training block, and how to think about volu...

Is full range of motion always better? Or is that just dogmatic gym culture pretending context doesn’t matter? In this solo episode, Judd Lienhard —former Army Ranger, college linebacker, and strength & performance coach with 15+ years of experience—breaks down the full range of motion vs partial range of motion debate without the internet nonsense. Train smarter with Judd’s performance-based...

Training pain vs. injury. Building muscle after 40. TRT. Mobility. HRV. Explosiveness as you age. In this Q&A episode of The Judd Lienhard Podcast , Judd answers some of the most common (and most misunderstood) questions around training, recovery, and performance after 40. If you’ve ever questioned whether you should push through discomfort or back off, or wondered how aging actually affects s...

If you’re training hard but unsure whether high volume or low volume training actually builds more strength and muscle, this episode is for you. Judd Lienhard breaks down the long-running debate around training volume, intensity, and frequency , explaining what science and real-world coaching experience actually show—and how to apply it to your own training. 👉 Try Judd’s training app free for 7 d...

In this Q&A episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down the real mechanics behind training timing, back pain, mobility, recovery, and the exercises that actually build a stronger, more athletic body after 30, 40, and 50. Listeners asked Judd about training schedules, sciatica, lower-back tightness, unconventional lifts, posture, belts, trap-bar deadlifts, martial arts, and long-term muscle maintenance—...

Performance coach Tim Riley returns to the Judd Lienhard Podcast for a high-level conversation on hybrid athletes, TRT, Olympic lifting, CrossFit culture, movement selection, and what truly drives athletic development today. Tim has coached NFL athletes, Olympians, and elite competitors across multiple sports. In this episode, he and Judd break down the real principles behind power development, id...

🎙 Q&A with Judd Lienhard: Cycling + Strength Training, Joint Pain Fixes, Foot Mechanics, Training While Sick & More In this performance-focused Q&A, Judd Lienhard answers some of the most common training questions athletes are asking today. From combining cycling with weight training, to resolving chronic joint pain, improving foot mechanics, training decisions when you’re sick, preppi...

What does functional fitness actually mean—and how do you know if your training is truly functional? In this episode, performance coach Judd Lienhard breaks down one of the most overused and misunderstood concepts in the fitness industry. Judd explains what “functionality” really is, why most definitions miss the mark, and how to determine which exercises actually carry over to strength, movement,...

In this Q&A session, Judd Lienhard breaks down your most requested training topics—from youth athletic development and play-based strength foundations, to hypertrophy work for athletes, BJJ conditioning, smart recovery strategies, and practical muscle-building nutrition. If you want to train smarter, stay athletic for life, and avoid the noise of overly complicated fitness advice, this episode...

In this episode, Judd sits down with Peloton instructor and hybrid athlete Logan Aldridge to explore what it really means to maintain an athlete mindset through injury, adversity, and unexpected setbacks. Logan lost his arm at 13 in a traumatic accident—but what makes his story powerful isn’t the injury, it’s the mindset he built because of it. Judd and Logan break down the practical mental skills...

Strength training Q&A with Judd Lienhard. In this episode, Judd breaks down common misconceptions around training intensity, deloads, creatine, peptides, gender-specific programming, and why inmates build muscle despite poor nutrition. Direct answers, with real exercise science and practical takeaways. What Judd covers: • How inmates get strong with limited food quality • When deload weeks mat...

Judd sits down with Trevor Millar, co-founder of AMBIO Life Sciences — the Ibogaine clinic where Judd received treatment through VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions), founded by Marcus and Amber Capone and featured in the film In Waves and War . If you learned about VETS or Ibogaine through In Waves and War , this episode breaks down exactly how the treatment works and why so many veteran...

🔥 Strength training Q&A with Judd Lienhard: How to train smart, stay strong, and build athletic capacity that lasts. Former Army Ranger and performance coach, Judd Lienhard, answers real questions from real listeners, covering training after 50, lower back strength, and efficient full-body workouts. Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Judd’s doing fan Q&As 00:25 – Best leg exercises for men 50+ (how...

You’re not 20 anymore — but you can still perform like an athlete. In this episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down how men over 35 can build muscle, boost testosterone, and train for longevity without burning out. Drawing from 15+ years of coaching and his own experience as a former Army Ranger and college linebacker, Judd shares what it really takes to stay strong, capable, and athletic as you age. He...

Former NFL strength and conditioning coach Jon Heck joins Judd Lienhard to talk about what actually works for diet, strength, and long-term athletic performance . They cover the fundamentals of eating, training, and building a body that stays lean, strong, and capable. Topics Covered Why most people fail at dieting The real role of carbohydrates in strength and muscle growth How to become a carboh...

If you want to live longer, move better, and still be thriving and active when you’re 70+ you should do one thing immediately: start lifting weights. In this episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down the truth about aging, metabolism, and why losing muscle is the real reason most people feel old. It’s not your metabolism slowing down, it’s your lifestyle. When you stop lifting, you lose muscle. When you...

In this Q&A episode, Judd Lienhard answers your top listener questions — from training to failure and recovery weeks to sprinting on leg day and balancing boxing with muscle growth. You’ll learn how to:  • Use failure training without wrecking recovery  • Know when to take time off (and when not to)  • Combine strength and conditioning effectively  • Build muscle while training for combat spor...

Kettlebells are one of the most misunderstood and underused tools in fitness — and they might be the key to unlocking real athletic strength. In this episode, Judd Lienhard sits down with Clifton Harski , of the Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification (PPSC) and creator of the Functional Kettlebell Training program, to break down why kettlebell training builds real-world strength, mobility,...

Most people argue over HIIT vs steady state cardio , but the truth is—you need both. If you want to recover faster, build real-world endurance, and keep your strength as you age, you have to understand how to train your cardiovascular system the right way. In this episode, Judd Lienhard —former Army Ranger, college linebacker, and performance coach for 15+ years—breaks down how your body actually...

In a world built to hijack your attention, staying focused and grounded has become a form of resistance. Richard Ryan — co-founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company , software developer, and media executive — joins Judd Lienhard to talk about how Big Tech is shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and daily habits. As a seasoned tech insider with over 15 years in digital media, Richard has seen how algorithm...

Muscles don’t want to grow—you have to force them. Adaptation is painful and uncomfortable, and nowhere is that more true than with leg training. Quads grow with pain. Glutes and hamstrings grow with high tension. Most lifters miss both. I’m Judd Lienhard—former Army Ranger, college linebacker, and strength & performance coach for 15+ years. In this episode, I break down why most leg workouts...

Speed coach Daniel Back (@2xathlete) joins Judd Lienhard to break down the truth about sprinting, speed training, and why adults should never stop sprinting. Sprinting isn’t just for track athletes — it’s the ultimate athletic expression and one of the best ways to stay strong, explosive, and youthful well into your 30s, 40s, and beyond. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why linear sprinting builds a...