Physical Preparation Podcast Archives - Robertson Training Systems

Joe Kenn, experienced collegiate and NFL strength coach turned strongman specialist. He discusses shifting from team sports to coaching elite strongmen. Topics include strongman contest strategy and event prep. Programming approaches like capacity-then-push blocks and on-season development. His move from average to peak-focused velocity-based training and practical session structures.

Megan Young, collegiate thrower-turned strength & conditioning coach and founder of Signal Strength, shares her journey from NCAA throwing to pro soccer and entrepreneurship. She discusses curiosity-driven learning, the rise of the generalist coach, sensory-integration and neuroscience after cancer, and why she stepped away from pro sport to impact more athletes.

Adam Loiacono, former Phoenix Suns medical director now specializing in regenerative medicine and orthobiologics. He breaks down PRP versus stem cells and why outcomes vary. Short explanations of injection types, when biologics make sense vs surgery, and why rehab and clinician technique matter. Practical guidance on who should consider these treatments and common pitfalls to avoid.

Jack Wells, a PhD biomechanics researcher and S&C expert for golf, explains how golf power really works and why measurement matters. He breaks down force-plate profiling, impulse and jump-to-clubhead links. Practical, low-cost assessment tricks and contest-ready isometric tests are discussed. Clear, science-backed rationale for coaching choices ties it all together.

Tom Clark, a researcher and performance practitioner with F1 experience and a doctorate on jet lag, helps teams optimize readiness across time zones. He discusses why jet lag is more than sleep loss. He explains circadian timing, how light and sleep timing shift the body clock, which common tips can backfire, and practical travel strategies for reliable adaptation.

Joel Jamieson, conditioning coach and founder of Morpheus, brings 20+ years working with combat and high-performance athletes. He explains what truly drives VO2 max improvements. Short takes on assessments, Zone 2 vs high-intensity work, interval protocols, balancing aerobic training with strength, and practical starters for older lifters.

Okay my friends, today we’re trying something 100% and completely NEW with this podcast! Yes, even after 500 episodes, I’m still looking for ways to keep it fresh and exciting, so I really hope you enjoy it. In today’s MR Training Talk, we’re going to dive deeper into some of my most popular articles and social media posts in recent memory. For example… What are the biggest mistakes coaches make when writing in-season programs? How can you optimizing a client or athlete’s training based on their unique physical characteristics? And what the heck is a “Buffer Zone?” And why are they so important? I’m going to answer all those questions – and more – in this week’s episode of the Physical Prep Podcast!   Quotable Quotes: Tailor exercises to an athlete needs – not trends – for better results and fewer injuries   Recognizing whether an athlete is more stiff or compliant allows for a precise intervention   In-season training success relies on balancing multiple workout types—loading, maintenance, “stim” and recovery   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Why I created this podcast format, and how I think it will help YOU How to optimize training for your floppy/unstable athletes Who deep tier plyos will work best for (as well as who should avoid them, at least early-on) The biggest mistakes I see coaches making with their in-season workouts Why you absolutely SHOULD lock in on the details of movement… …but why you SHOULD NOT do this at the expense of other physical qualities My “Big 3” physical qualities you should be developing if you want to make savage gen pop clients or athletes An introduction to the concept of the physiological “Buffer Zone” Understanding how the buffer zone concept works not only with mobility, but virtually any physical quality you want to develop!     Related Links: MR on Instagram In-Season Training Mistakes Article Movement Quality? Train Like a Savage? Or Both? Article Physiological Buffer Zone article by Patrick Ward   Ways to Continue Learning: Optimizing Movement Workshop in Arizona Complete Coach Certification In-Season Programming Masterclass   Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic! Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel? Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes? If so, you need to check out Train Heroic. I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none. To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic. Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that. So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Buffer Zones, Optimizing Training and In-Season Workouts appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Practical strategies for connecting with each young athlete and tailoring how you communicate. Tips for discovering an authentic coaching style that blends empathy with technical skill. Ways to make kids more coachable and why effort and attitude often matter more than talent. Advice on controlling your energy to shape team culture and the importance of relentless, consistent coaching.

Dr. Marc Lewis, Director of Applied Sports Science for the Houston Texans and former collegiate sports scientist, shares his path from a tough childhood to leading data-driven athlete monitoring. He compares low-cost practical setups to flashy tech, stresses asking the right questions before buying tools, and outlines how streamlined metrics and decision matrices turn data into fast, actionable support for players.

What a year it was in 2025! Serious growth with IFAST Basketball. The gym is humming along. And my kids are getting BIG! But even with all the good stuff, there’s always a need to look back and reflect. Sure some things went right – but I definitely wasn’t perfect. Where did I miss the mark? And what can I do better in 2026? I cover all that – and some lessons I learned along the way – in this week’s episode!   Quotable Quotes: It’s not about giving my kids more stuff. It’s about making memories and doing things that they’ll remember and cherish for a lifetime   If you build it, they will come. Well, you know what? That sounds great. And it makes for an awesome movie. But it doesn’t work in real life!   The more curious you are, the more enjoyable this whole training and coaching thing is   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Family updates: Team Robertson is crushing life right now! Awesome trips and travel in 2025, as well as experiences we’ll remember for a lifetime Why I finally decided to push IFAST Basketball, and how I’ll continue to tweak and refine it in the years to come How December of 2025 somehow became my most productive month of the year, and helped me really lock in for 2026 My life/work theme’s for 2024/2025, and how that’s evolved now for 2026 Why the mantra “If you build it, they will come” is absolutely NOT TRUE Personal goals for 2026, including how I’m investing in my body to stay healthy Professional goals for RTS, IFAST Basketball, and thoughts on some big projects for the year!     Related Links: Building a Fitness Business that Works for YOUR Life with Andy McCloy   Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press! Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress? It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world. So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day. Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking. Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features. And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes. Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions. So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to pushpress.com/ppp.   Subscribe, Rate & Share Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. The post 2025 Review, 2026 Preview, and Lessons Learned Over the Past Year appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.