#186 - Networking, AI, Education and Blindspots - Dr. Dave Osborn

8 snips

Mar 17, 2026

Dr. Dave Osborn, powerlifting coach, gym owner, and researcher with a PhD in coaching. He talks about networking in-person and a give-first mindset. They explore AI's limits versus human coaching, common blind spots of young coaches, using variations to manage load, and systems for timely communication and mentorship.

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ADVICE

Give First At Meets To Build Lasting Connections

Do approach networking with a give-first mindset and help others at meets.
Dave Osborn and Paul O'Neill describe packing up teams to help warmup rooms run smooth so every lifter performs their best.

ANECDOTE

A 15 Year Connection Turned Into A Paid Keynote

Paul shared meeting Joe Conley 15 years ago led to a paid keynote later because they kept contact over years.
That long-term casual connection started by training together and occasional messages, not immediate transactional asks.

ADVICE

Use Mentorship To Collapse Coaching Learning Curves

Do seek mentorship to collapse learning time instead of figuring everything out by trial and error.
Dave explains he learned coaching through university degrees and peers and lacked a straightforward path early on.

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Dr. Dave Osborn returns to the pod for a second time to discuss the current state of the powerlifting coaching space, networking, AI, client relationships and big blind spots we see with young coaches.

Dave has spent more than two decades in strength sports as an athlete, coach, researcher, and builder of one of the most respected powerlifting communities in the Pacific Northwest: Team OPS. As the founder and owner of OPS Gym, a private strength and conditioning facility that has operated successfully for 12 years, Dave has shaped a culture defined by high standards, deep integrity, and an unwavering belief in the power of effort.

Dave comes from a family of coaches and educators. He began coaching at age 12 alongside his father and has spent the past 25 years teaching athletes how to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally through the pursuit of strength. His doctoral dissertation, “Effects of Communication Scheduling on Affective State and the Coach–Athlete Relationship in Online Powerlifting Coaching,” reflects his lifelong commitment to understanding not just how athletes get strong, but how coaches create meaningful, lasting change.

We discussed:
00:00 — In-Person vs. Online
02:41 — Give-First Networking
07:16 — The Long Game of Relationships
13:19 — CCU Relaunch & New Mentorship Model
18:11 — AI's Limits & the Human Coaching Advantage
19:15 — The Toolbox Problem
28:51 — Blind Spots of Young Coaches
36:01 — Teaching Critical Thinking Through Variation
38:50 — The Coach-Athlete Relationship
42:18 — Feedback Timing & Autonomy
44:52 — Post-Training Reflection & Motor Learning
46:50 — Business Systems That Save Time (Loom)
49:03 — Advanced Athletes Still Need Daily Communication
54:05 — Managing Ego Through Exercise Selection
57:01 — What's Next for Dave

Instagram: @drdaveatops
Website: https://www.opsgym.com/
__________
Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry.

If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com.

If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com

Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance
__________
-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:
www.coachescorneru.com
💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:
www. masterathletic.com

Who am I and why should you listen to me?
Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.

RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!