Strength Chat

Just because something has always been done a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s the best way. This week I chatted with Sophia Nimphius, a Professor of Human Performance with 20+ years in elite sport. Sophia challenges outdated thinking and wants to push strength & conditioning forward, not by guessing, but by asking better questions. If you coach, train, or care about performance this episode will make you rethink a lot.  In this episode we break down: 🏋️ What strength and robustness actually mean 🧠 What robustness looks like in a real training environment 📊 Why we need to rethink how we test and measure performance If you’ve ever followed a method just because “that’s how it’s done”, this will challenge your thinking. 👉 Join the newsletterFollow Sophia:👉 @docsoph 👉 https://www.docsoph.com/  Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

Getting older doesn’t mean slowing down. It means training smarter. This week I was joined by Susan Niebergall, personal trainer and strength coach who lives what she teaches. She’s proof that strength training isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about quality of life, confidence, and longevity. And more importantly, the results you think are “for other people”, aren’t.  In this episode we break down: 💪 Why strength training becomes more important as you age 🚫 What actually holds people back from getting started 🔥 Susan’s journey, challenges, setbacks, and wins If you’ve ever thought “it’s too late” or “that’s not for me”, this will change your perspective.👉 Join the newsletterFollow Susan: 👉 @susanniebergallfitness 👉 https://susanniebergallfitness.com/  Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

What does it actually take to last 10+ years in professional rugby? This week I sat down with Ross Harrison, former Sale Sharks prop with 300+ professional appearances. After a decade playing at the top level, Ross is now transitioning into coaching while balancing family life which gave us a great chance to reflect on what really drives success both on and off the pitch. If you’re an athlete, coach, or just someone trying to train better for the long run, there’s plenty to take from this one.  In this episode we cover: 🏉 The similarities and differences in training during and after professional rugby 🥗 Why nutrition plays such a huge role in performance and recovery 🧠 Key lessons Ross learned from 10 years at the top level 👉 Join the newsletterFollow Ross: 👉 @rossharrisonfr Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

If you’re a rugby player trying to get stronger, faster, and more dominant on the pitch, this episode is for you! This week I sat down with Joel Harries, a strength & conditioning coach whose knowledge comes from real success and real mistakes during his rugby career. Now he’s helping players avoid the common mistakes that once held him back.  In this episode we break down: 🏉 The most common mistakes rugby players make (and how to avoid them)  📈 How to add direction and structure to your training  🥗 Why nutrition isn’t optional if you want to perform If you’ve been training hard but not seeing it transfer to the pitch, this conversation will shift your thinking. Join the weekly email list 👉 https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rgl  Follow Joel: 👉 @joelharries.strengthsolution 👉 https://coaching.strengthsolution.co.uk/work-with-us  Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

This week I was joined by Stephane Cazeault, Founder of KILO Education. If you care about programming, this episode is absolute gold. Stephane brings serious depth when it comes to detail, structure, and delivering a high standard of service. No guesswork. No flashy trends. Just systems that hold up over time. And that’s exactly what we unpacked. In this episode we break down: 📊 What periodisation really means (and how to apply it properly) 🔁 How to build a programming system you can repeat with confidence ⚠️ The most common mistakes coaches make, and how to avoid them If you’ve ever felt like you’re “writing workouts” instead of building a system, this will sharpen your thinking immediately. Join the newsletter 👉 https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rglFollow Stephane: 👉 @stephane.cazeault 👉 @kiloeducation 👉 https://trainkilo.com/  Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Ross Leppala, Reactive Training Systems coach and 2x Masters Powerlifting World Champion. As lifters get stronger physically, what often holds them back isn’t their body, it’s their mind. The good news is that, just like strength, mindset can be trained. And that’s exactly what we unpacked in this episode. In this conversation, we break down: 🧠 Are your limits real or self-imposed? 🔥 The impact of confidence on performance 📈 Why progress requires stepping outside your comfort zone If you’re stuck at a plateau, second guessing attempts or playing it safe in training, this one will be helpful for you. Want more insights like this every week?👉 Join the newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rgl  Follow Ross: 👉 @ross.leppala 👉 @intentionalathlete_podcast Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

This week I was joined by Kyle McKee, strength & powerlifting coach and Pre-Script Level 3 coach. There’s no shortage of “quick fixes” in training. Tweaks. Hacks. Adjustments. Shortcuts. Promises of faster results. But most of them don’t last. In this conversation, Kyle and I talk about something far more powerful: How to make success inevitable, without constantly changing your programme.  In this episode we break down: 🔥 Trying harder vs. changing your programme  🏋️ How to get more out of the training you’re already doing  📈 How to build a system where progress becomes unavoidable If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing a lot but not moving forward, this episode will challenge how you think about progress. Join the Built By Strength Community - https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rgl Follow Kyle: 👉 @_kylemckee Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

This week I was joined by Julia Hlaing, a pelvic health physio with experience competing in bodybuilding, weightlifting, CrossFit and powerlifting. When it comes to training before, during, and after pregnancy, there’s a huge amount of misinformation that creates fear, confusion, and unnecessary limitations. Julia is doing the opposite, breaking myths, sharing evidence-based practice, and helping women (and coaches) feel confident, not cautious. What makes this episode even better, is Julia is actually pregnant herself in this episode.   In this episode, we cover: 🤰 The most common myths around training & pregnancy  🏋️ What best practice actually looks like pre, during, and post pregnancy  🗣️ The role of the coach and why language & communication matter so much  If you coach women or train through pregnancy yourself, this episode is essential listening. If this episode helped shift your thinking, the newsletter is where it continues - https://mailchi.mp/ea9ee2b51d7c/built-by-strength Follow Julia: 👉 @pelvicstrong 👉 @pbphysio_olympicpark Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Brandon Schultze, a strength coach, Pre-Script educator, and someone who’s worked across both general population and professional sport. What stands out most about Brandon isn’t just what he knows, it’s how curious he’s been willing to stay. That curiosity has led him to: • seek more knowledge • sharpen his coaching language • and produce real results with both the coaches he mentors and the athletes he supports And that’s exactly what we explored in this conversation. In this episode, we chatted about: 🧠 Why so many coaches avoid curiosity 📈 The positive impact curiosity has on learning and result🗣️ How communication & language can elevate (or limit) your coaching If you coach people, this episode will challenge how you think, speak and ask questions. If this topic resonates, the newsletter is where it continues. 👉 Sign up to the newsletter via the link - https://mailchi.mp/ea9ee2b51d7c/built-by-strengthFollow Brandon: 👉 @brandon.schultze Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat 

We’re back for the first episode of 2026 and we kicked off this week with Dr. Matt Casturo, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and Founder of The Movement System. Matt has a great skill of: 👉 taking complex performance topics 👉 stripping away the fluff 👉 and making them clear, practical and usable for coaches and athletes. If you’ve ever asked “Am I actually training for performance… or just getting strong?”, this episode is for you. What we break down in this episode: 🏋️‍♂️ The difference between being strong in the gym vs strong in your sport 🧠 How to make better programming decisions (without overthinking it) 📊 What information you actually need to improve athletic performance If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll love the newsletter. Each week I share: ✅ Coaching insights ✅ Training principles that actually work ✅ Lessons pulled directly from podcast conversations 👉 Sign up to the newsletterFollow Matt: 👉 @themovementsystem 👉 https://www.themovementsystem.com/  Follow me:  👉 @coach_cuthbert 👉 @strength_chat