Episode 58: Dane Miller on the Science, Business, and ART of Coaching

Dane Miller is a force. Twice-over business owner and coach of Olympic competitors, world champions, and NCAA athletes across 7 sports, he combines a deep knowledge of sports performance with business acumen and people skills you just can't teach. We admire the heck out of him, so we invited him on our podcast to find out, essentially, how he does it all.

What ensued was a highly informative, highly animated conversation about everything from coping with COVID-19 to running a business in the health/ fitness industry to what it's like to train with pioneers such as Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk and Charles Poliquin.

Episode 57: Dr. Lisa Lewis on the Mechanics of Motivation

"Your most effective instrument for effecting change is your report, your relationship with the client."

We'll let that sink in for a moment. This quote, so profound in its succinct expression of truth, is one of the many gems that emerged from our conversation with Dr. Lisa Lewis, Ed.D. CADC-II. As a licensed, practicing psychologist, Dr. Lewis is an expert on motivation and behavior change. And while a portion of her career is dedicated to clinical work with individuals seeking to become healthier, we invited her on Episode 57 to talk about the other portion of her career-- the part focused on helping practitioners help others get healthier.

Zachary GreenwaldApril 1, 2020Sports Psychology, Psychology, Coaching, Evidence-Based Coaching

Episode 53: Bret Contreras on Coaching Like a Carpenter, Not a Guru

You know what great coaches are like? Carpenters. Carpenters that have a whole host of tools at their disposal-- carpenters who know how to deploy those tools at the right times, during the right projects, and for the right purposes.

You know what great coaches are not like? Cult leaders. Cult leaders who doctrinize exercise, who proclaim some movements “good” and others “bad”-- whose approach is not only anathema to science, but is also no good for their clients.

Episode 50: Mel Davis on Goal Setting: A Human Approach

No matter how much you know, no matter how much experience you have, no matter how steadfast or disciplined or committed you are, you’re human. And, as Dr. Mel Davis, Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, and Renaissance Periodization Coach explains, that’s a critical thing to recognize. It’s the key to reaching your aesthetic, athletic, and health goals.

Episode 48: Bryce Lewis on the Modern Coach-Athlete Relationship

As Bryce Lewis, IFP Champion, Drug-Free Powerlifting Coach, and founder of The Strength Athlete, puts it, “The whole relationship between a coach and an athlete is hinged upon success or failure in making the athlete better.” So how can we ensure this relationship will lead to success? On Episode 48 of our Podcast, Bryce Lewis helps us answer this complex question.

Episode 38: Max Aita of Juggernaut Training Systems

Episode 38 of the Strength Ratio Podcast features Coach Max Aita, who has spent nearly two decades in both Weightlifting and Powerlifting. Max has produced numerous senior national medalists in Weightlifting, as well as world record holders in Powerlifting.

We first learn how Max’s coaches, including Steve Gough (USA), Ivan Abadjiev (BUL), and Boris Sheiko (RUS), shaped Max’s current training systems.

Next, Max discusses the relationship between weightlifting specific technique and weightlifting specific strength.

Episode 36: Mattie Rogers & Danny Camargo

Episode 36 of the Strength Ratio Podcast features World Championships Silver Medalist, Mattie Rogers, and her coach, Danny Camargo, who’s earned Level 5 Senior International Distinction.

We begin the episode by discussing their latest competition, the American Open Series III. Mattie and Danny provide insight into the obstacles they encountered leading up to the meet, and how they overcame them. We discover that the strength of their relationship has, despite challenge and set back, been defined by their deep trust and ability to communicate.

Episode 33: Jacob Reed on Athlete Monitoring

Episode 33 of the Strength Ratio Podcast features another team member of Renaissance Periodization, Jacob Reed. Alongside his peers, Dr. James Hoffmann (Episode 31) and Dr. Mike Israetel (Episode 18), Jacob received his Ph.D in Sports Performance from East Tennessee State University.

In this episode, Jacob joins us to discuss athlete monitoring. Like the App Store, Jacob creates a list of the “Top Paid” and the “Top Free” ways to monitor progress and biofeedback. This list includes an evaluation…

Episode 31: James Hoffmann on Volume Landmarks for Sport

James Hoffmann, who holds a PhD in Sports Physiology, is a consultant for Renaissance Periodization. Jame's contributions to the field of exercise science have had a notable impact on our education in, and programming for, sports performance.

In Episode 31, James joins us to discuss volume landmarks of training in the context of field sports and of CrossFit. When training multiple fitness characteristics concurrently…

Episode 30: Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro on the Gut Microbiome

Episode 30 of the Strength Ratio Podcast features Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro, PhD in Human Nutrition and nutrition coach for Renaissance Periodization, who joins us to discuss digestive health and the gut microbiome.

Gabrielle first discusses digestive physiology to explain nutrient absorption and bacterial diversity. Next, she makes clear the influence that diet has on our gut and what considerations this may have for both a healthy diet and for athletic performance.

Episode 29: Markers of Performance

In Episode 29 of the Strength Ratio Podcast, we discuss how you can both qualitatively and quantitively measure performance over time so as to gauge the effectiveness of your training. We also offer practical programming benchmarks for weightlifters, powerlifters and Crossfitters in the context of a competitive macrocycle.

Lastly, we provide metrics you can use to increase the efficacy of a nutritional plan across body composition goals.

Episode 27: A Three Year Reflection - What We've Learned Most

In April, we celebrated our third year anniversary as a company! Therefore, in Episode 27, we identify how, and why, our major training philosophies have changed in this time. We also acknowledge the individuals in the field who've had the greatest impact on our growth. We discuss, most notably, our evolved stance on exercise selection, exercise correlation, and muscular imbalances.

Lastly, we acknowledge the inherent limitations to the research performed in our field…

Zachary GreenwaldJune 22, 2018Business, Coaching, Programming, Exercise and Sports Research

Episode 25: 2018 USAW Nationals with Kingfield Barbell

Episode 25 of the Strength Ratio Podcast was recorded from Kansas City, host of the 2018 USAW National Championships. Zach was joined by his larger team of National Level athletes and co-coaches, including Anthony Konas, Danny Yeager, and Christopher Yang. These four share in their combined experience at National Weightlifting meets, including the many mistakes that they made early on, the mistakes that they still occasionally make, as well as other lessons they've found valuable in their development.

Zachary GreenwaldMay 31, 2018Weightlifting, Competing, Coaching, Sport Performance

Episode 23: Interview with Bret Contreras "Evidenced-Based Considerations for Coaching"

Although Bret Contreras is known popularly as the "Glute Guy", due to his innovation and expertise surrounding glute training, Bret's accumulated tremendous experience, education, and coaching skills in most Sport Science matters. Therefore, we spend less time in this podcast discussing the glutes, and more time talking about coach development.

In this episode, Bret highlights how important it is for a coach to consolidate personal training experiences…

Episode 18: Interview with Dr. Mike Israetel - Practical Sports Science Application & Maximum Recoverable Volume

In episode eighteen of the Strength Ratio Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Mike Israetel, Head Science Consultant of Renaissance Periodization. Mike's body of work, along with the help of his colleagues at Renaissance Periodization, has had a tremendous impact on our ability to help athletes resolve pain, return to play, and optimize performance.

Mike first answers how his advanced education in Exercise Physiology, under the counsel of acclaimed…

Episode 17: Interview with Alex Viada - Athlete Development using a Concurrent Training Model

In episode seventeen of the Strength Ratio Podcast, we’re joined again by Alex Viada of Complete Human Performance. Alex is back to discuss athlete development using a concurrent training model.

This episode first highlights the development of an intermediate to advanced level endurance athlete, who, as a novice to weight training, begins training both endurance and strength concurrently. Alex details his methodology for introducing this particular athlete…

Episode 16: Interview with Dimitri Tsoumpas (aka the "Strength Shaman")

In episode sixteen of the Strength Ratio Podcast, we’re joined by Dimitri Tsoumpas. Dimitri attended Weber State University as an offensive lineman, earning Second Team Big Sky accolades in his senior season. After graduating with a bachelors in Human Performance, he was drafted second overall in the 2008 Canadian Football League. Dimitri excelled in the "CFL", where he was nominated as rookie of the year, and also won a championship title. Dimitri even signed an NFL contract with the Miami Dolphins…

Episode 13: Interview with Danny Camargo

In episode thirteen of the Strength Ratio Podcast, we’re joined by Danny Camargo who shares with us his weightlifting insight and coaching journey. As a Junior, Danny was one of America’s most celebrated lifters, and now, roughly twenty years later, Danny is respected as one the nation’s most distinguished coaches. Danny has earned Level 5 Senior International Distinction and has coached countless elite athletes in the sport including, most recently, Mattie Rogers.

Zachary GreenwaldFebruary 13, 2018Weightlifting, Coaching, Professional Coaching, Coach-Athlete Relationship

Episode 12: Biomechanics & Accessory Work

In this podcast, we discuss foundational biomechanics across squatting, hip-hinging, pushing and pulling exercises to improve both safety and performance. We also provide context around commonly used cues to clarify misconceptions, and that allow you to focus on the most important aspects of sound technique.

Episode 11: ABC Model of Sustainable Training

In this podcast, we share how we program for both strength and conditioning, concurrently. Our ABC Model creates a framework of exercise selection and exercise intensities that help our athletes improve performance, and regulate fatigue over time. Grab a pen and paper for this one; you may want to take notes!

Make sure to send us any questions you have through Instagram (strengthratio) or Facebook (Strength Ratio LLC).

STRENGTH RATIO PODCASTS