The ZAO Strength Podcast

On this episode of The ZAO Strength Podcast, we chat with powerlifting coaches Tyson Eckel, Seba Ehmann, and Jim Elli about implementing Intuitive Training with their athletes. This is the fourth episode in our series exploring Intuitive Training for strength sports. Tyson, Seba, and Jim give us insight into how they utilize Intuitive Training principles in their own training and coaching. We disc...

Coach Jim Elli and Jake from Data Driven Strength discuss how and why auto-regulation principles, combined with getting helpful feedback from athletes, can help coaches optimize their athletes' strength development programs. Auto-regulation is making a comeback, and we want you to be ready and able to take advantage of it when you're ready. ZAO Strength Youtube: https://youtu.be/OUFVva5i...

In this episode of the ZAO Strength Podcast,  coaches Jim Elli and Tyson Eckel bring back guest Michael Churnin to discuss the art of mastery  the realm of strength sport. Additionally, we dive deeper into what it means to train intuitively if your intention is to become a master of your craft. We had a lot of fun with this one so make sure to share it with your friends if you enjoyed listening! Z...

Join Tyson Eckel and Jim Elli as we discuss how to design a program based on intuition. We will explore how intuition can be used to solve complex problems, how to create a program framework that embraces intuition, and where to start if you've never done something like this before. You can tune in each week to learn how to design a program based on your intuition and creativity. ZAO Strength...

In this episode, coaches Seba Ehmann and Jim Elli welcome Dr. Buckner from the University of South Florida. Research focuses on skeletal muscle adaptation, and his current work emphasizes enhancing understanding of the effects of blood flow restriction on muscle size. Dr. Buckner has 60 papers published in peer-reviewed journals, and in 2012 was the Guinness World Record holder for the most consec...

Thank you for your patience. It's been 4 months since our last podcast upload. We are happy to bring to you this absolute gem of content to help you dig deep into your powerlifting brain. We had the pleasure of speaking with Mike Churnin who recently wrote a book titled "strength speaks" to learn how powerlifters and strength athletes think about their training journey.  Enjoy :) ZA...

 In this Episode, Olympic Weightlifter, ex-rugby player, powerlifter, and powerlifting coach Jacob Lynch joins ZAO Strength Coach Jim Elli to discuss the realities of the powerlifting Left. is powerlifting really an "individual" sport, or is it dependent on the comradery of our fellow community members? Later we shift to discussing what it's like to be black in the strength communit...

I began working with Ben Wharton in November of 2018. Working with Ben taught me more about coaching than I had learned in 3 years. The first competition that mattered to him... IPF Worlds 2019 in Sweden was a disaster. Nothing went to plan. Strength was down, tears were had, we needed to make a change. We listened to the data, and made an incredible comeback into the European Championships in 201...

In this episode, we had the pleasure to speak with Swedish Powerlifting Phenom Alba Bostrom. Alba is the 2021 Open World Bench Champion, a 4x Swedish National Champion, Bronze Medalist at Junior IPF Worlds and has a lot to share about her unique powerlifting journey. So, sit back, get your best headphones, and enjoy the episode! ZAO Strength Youtube: https://youtu.be/OUFVva5i6PI?si=TAHrrfFxtP3aYVs...

The last two episodes of the ZAO Strength Podcast feature the legends Josh Pelland and Zac Robinson from Data-Driven Strength and they were so much fun to speak with. In part two of the series, we discuss specific moments in our coaching careers that forced us to get creative to solve lifting problems that our clients have experienced.  Interestingly, Mario makes a secret entrance into the episode...

Periodization can be described as the way in which we organize our training day, week,  month, and year. Proponents of a top-down periodization model typically encourage pre-planned training structures with some built-in predictions. Whereas bottom-up periodization involves minimal up-front planning. Instead, bottom-up periodization is typically implemented through building the plan organically ba...

It's no question that Boris Shieko has made a great impact on powerlifters around the world. Canadian Powerlifter Matt Vena is not immune to this influence. Matt is currently ranked 9th in the 93kg weight class in the IPF, has amassed 83k subscribers on Youtube in less than 2 years, and provides great insight on what it takes to make progress within the sport. We dive deep into his approach t...

In this episode, coach Jim Elli speaks with American deadlift record holder, 2018 USAPL National Champion, and Brazos Valley Strength Owner David Woolson. We speak about what it takes to self-coach, achieve greatness within the sport of powerlifting, and how to use your lifting experiences to make better training and coaching decisions.   If you're considering working with a coach, go to http...

In this episode, coach Jim Elli chats with IPF Powerlifter, World Deadlift Record Holder, and Content King Bryce Krawczyk about his powerlifting journey over the last few years. We discuss his hip injury and how he's managed to break world records despite it, how he creates so much epic youtube content, and what his vision for the future of powerlifting looks like.  If you enjoy this episode...

In this episode, coaches Jim Elli and Tyson Eckel speak with Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum from Barbell Medicine about the problem of disinformation and misinformation in the lifting world. Disinformation can be described as "intentional misinformation" which has the potential to alter perceptions of the naive and/or undereducated and impact their decision making in a negative way. Dr. Feigenbau...

In this episode, coaches Jim Elli and Tyson Eckel speak with Madi Riebe from Better Outlook MN about the limitations of powerlifting coaching, when to refer out, when to seek help, the unjust stigma of mental health disorders in powerlifting, and how we can be more mindful powerlifters along our respective journeys. If you have questions about today's episode, email us at ZAOStrength@gmail.co...

In this episode of the ZAO Strength Podcast, Coach Jim Elli speaks with Australian Powerlifting Queen Liz Craven about what life as a powerlifter has been like after her federation left the IPF, the pandemic started, further fractioning of Australian Powerlifting, and shifting priorities we evolve as powerlifters. ZAO Strength Youtube: https://youtu.be/OUFVva5i6PI?si=TAHrrfFxtP3aYVs1 ZAO Strength...

It seems as though powerlifting is on a never-ending roller coaster with an unknown destination. From the Covid-19 Pandemic to the recent departure of the USAPL from the IPF, it can be difficult for athletes to find motivation for the sport. So, coaches Verena Grimm and Jim Elli called up Jessica Buettner to gain insight on what she has done to regain motivation, hit PR's, and prepare for IPF...

Yeah... you weren't expecting this were you? A powerlifting podcast where we talk about drugs that have nothing to do with performance or anabolism.  In this episode, Coach Tyson Eckel, Jim Elli, and IPF World Champion/Owner of The Strength Athlete Bryce Lewis talk about the impact Psychedelics such as Psilocybin impact our brain, why they are stigmatized, and what benefits these magical mush...

Setbacks are inevitable. In this episode coach Jim Elli, Verena Grimm, and Tyson Eckel discuss how we've all experienced relatively significant setbacks in our training and what we've done to overcome them and thrive in training.  ZAO Strength Youtube: https://youtu.be/OUFVva5i6PI?si=TAHrrfFxtP3aYVs1 ZAO Strength Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaostrength/ Jim Elli's Instagram...

The thing with strength sports is that sometimes it feels like we have to justify our dedication, passion, and sacrifice for the sport by competing.  In this episode, coach Jim Elli, Seba Ehmann, Verena Grimm, and Tyson Eckel discuss their first competitive experiences and their desire to compete in strength sports. Then we dive into what types of lifter should and shouldn't compete in streng...

In this wild episode, we speak with our first guest, Sal Nakhlawi from StrongHER Girls®. Sal is both a business owner, a signed sports and fitness model at Wilhelmina Models , has a B.S in Neuroscience, African Studies, and Social Entrepreneurship. She's pretty badass and we share similar philosophical ideologies in regards to how we want to impact the strength and fitness world.  We're...

In this episode, coach Verena Grimm, Seba Ehmann, and Jim Elli discuss the role that Body Image has in our strength journey. For many of us, the way in which we relate to our bodies and how we see ourselves may impact how we relate to the world. In the fitness world, we are constantly exposed to what the "Ideal body type" is.  Growing up, magazines like Men's Health and Women's...

In this episode, the ZAO Strength team chats about sustainable nutrition.   What is Sustainable Nutrition?  Why is it so difficult to develop a sustainable approach to your nutritional habits?  Why have all of the coaches had such a wild journey in their relationship with food and nutrition?  Find out about all of this more on this week's episode of the ZAO Strength Podcast.  ZAO Strength You...

In this weeks episode, coaches Seba Ehmann, Jim Elli, Verena Grimm, Tyson Eckel and Seif Adel talk about what it means to develop sustainable strength. How do you know if your training approach is sustainable? What should you do about it once you learn your training approach is unsustainable? Can you reach elite levels of strength...sustainably? It's the important questions that we try to ans...