The Strength Coach Podcast

Are machines making a regressive comeback in the fitness industry? Join Anthony Renna and legendary coach Mike Boyle as they dive into the truth about facility design, functional training, and why more equipment isn't always better. This episode explores the shift from traditional “Noah’s Ark” weight rooms to modern, functional spaces that prioritize movement over metal.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PERFORMBETTER.COM 
Check out the upcoming Functional Training Summits in Long Beach and Providence
Bring your whole team for $849 or “Bring a Friend for Free” deal at https://www.PerformBetter.com 

In this episode of the Strength Coach Podcast, Coach Boyle breaks down the logistics of facility design, explaining why saving square footage and money by skipping single-use machines can actually lead to a better-run business. You will learn about the specific machines that Mike actually recommends, the importance of stabilizers, and how to effectively use cable machines to improve longevity and performance.

We also feature a special segment with Pete Dupuis from Business for Unicorns on the power of saying no to growth opportunities to focus on what truly matters. 

Later, the conversation shifts to advanced training techniques, focusing on thoracic rotation, movement patterns, and a deep dive into why the common advice to push through pain is often detrimental to long-term progress. Coach Boyle shares his system for modifying exercises to keep clients moving safely and effectively.

Whether you are a personal trainer, strength coach, physical therapist, or gym owner, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you level up your coaching game and business strategy.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro and Sponsor Highlights
1:40 Machines vs Free Weights Trend
3:08 Business for Unicorns Growth Strategy
6:02 The Noahs Ark Weight Room Concept
8:35 Why Machines are Making a Comeback
10:39 The Only Machines Worth Buying
14:15 Logistics and Facility Flow
17:42 Stabilizers and the Role of Cables
21:32 Thoracic Rotation and Longevity
25:12 Training Progressions and Nick DeMarco
28:10 Why You Should Never Train Through Pain
33:45 Experience in Coaching
36:00 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?
Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):
Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book
Book a free 10-minute intro call HERE
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/brainstorm
Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/
Subscribe to Mark Fisher’s channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/c/markfisherhumanbeing
If you found this helpful, please like the video and subscribe for more expert coaching content. Visit Strengthcoach.com to start your free trial and access more resources.

Stop fearing pain and start understanding how your brain processes injury. In this episode, Dr. Tom Walters joins the Strength Coach Podcast to break down the complex world of modern pain science and how to help clients move from hurt to healed. Dr. Walters explains why the old postural-structural-biomechanical model is often outdated and why the biopsychosocial approach is the gold standard for modern rehab.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PERFORMBETTER.COM 
Check out the upcoming Functional Training Summits in Chicago, Long Beach, and Providence
Bring your whole team for $849 or “Bring a Friend for Free” deal at https://www.PerformBetter.com 

We dive deep into the phenomenon of phantom limb pain, the role of neuroplasticity in desensitizing the nervous system, and the importance of using positive language with clients.
Whether you are a strength coach, personal trainer, or physical therapist, you will learn how to navigate the three phases of healing, inflammatory, maturation, and remodeling, to build resilient athletes. Dr. Walters also shares his insights on why there is no such thing as a bad movement, only a lack of capacity, and how to use graded exposure to help clients regain their confidence.

KEY TOPICS INCLUDE:
-Why pain does not always mean tissue damage
-How to use graded exposure to overcome fear of movement
-The impact of sleep, stress, and social connection on recovery
-Programming for low back pain across three distinct phases
-Moving away from the corrective exercise trap

For more info:
Rehab Science book:
https://rehabscience.com/book/

Dr. Tom Walters on YouTube (1.11M Subscribers)
https://www.youtube.com/@RehabScience

Dr. Tom Walters on Instagram (1.7M Followers)
https://www.instagram.com/rehabscience/

Dr. Tom Walters' Website - Rehab Science 
https://rehabscience.com/

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro and the Nuance of Pain Science
2:15 Sponsor Message: Perform Better
5:10 Meet Dr. Tom Walters of Rehab Science
8:45 The Evolution of Modern Pain Science
12:20 Understanding Pain as a Brain Output
15:55 Biopsychosocial vs Biomechanical Models
19:30 The Role of Psychology in Recovery
23:10 Building Trust and Adherence with Patients
27:45 Neuroplasticity and Desensitizing Pain
31:20 Graded Exposure Techniques for Trainers
35:40 Movement Variability and Posture Myths
39:50 The Three Phases of Tissue Healing
44:15 Practical Rehab for Low Back Pain
48:30 Debunking the Idea of Bad Movements
52:10 Empowering Clients through Education
55:09 Video End

If you found this helpful, please like the video and subscribe for more interviews with top fitness experts. Check out the Rehab Science book series for step-by-step protocols on over 50 common injuries. https://rehabscience.com/book/

Are you prioritizing specific exercises over actual athletic outcomes? In this episode of the Strength Coach Podcast, host Anthony Renna sits down with legendary coach Mike Boyle to discuss the surprising return of single leg cleans and the ongoing debate surrounding spinal health and flexion.

Brought to you by PerformBetter.com 
Be sure to save the dates for the upcoming Functional Training Summits in Chicago, Long Beach, and Providence
Check out the “Bring a Friend for Free” deal at www.PerformBetter.com

We kick things off with Pete Dupuis from Business for Unicorns, who shares why your marketing might be failing because you are asking the wrong questions. Learn how to hunt for clarity rather than compliments to truly understand what your clients value and how to remove friction points in your fitness business.

The main conversation focuses on Coach Boyle's recent shift back to unilateral Olympic lifting. He explains how single leg cleans are helping athletes hit personal bests in sprinting and vertical jumps, even for those later in their careers. You will hear about the evolution of his training philosophy and why he believes adding a stability component does not have to detract from strength gains.

We also dive deep into the recent flexion debate featuring Dr. Stuart McGill. Coach Boyle explores the nuances of spine health, the smoking analogy for repeated flexion, and why trunk stability should be the happy medium between flexion and extension. From loading parameters to the benefits of hollow holds over traditional crunches, this episode is packed with actionable advice for any strength coach or personal trainer.

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?

Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):
Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book
Book a free 10-minute intro call HERE
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/brainstorm
Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/
Subscribe to Mark Fisher’s channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/c/markfisherhumanbeing

Chapters
0:00 Intro and Perform Better Summits
3:10 Marketing Insights with Pete Dupuis
7:45 Coach Boyle on Visual Presentation and Growth
11:15 Why Single Leg Cleans are Making a Comeback
15:30 Speed Improvements and Unilateral Power
19:00 Loading Strategies for Single Leg Olympic Lifts
22:45 The Flexion Debate: Insights from Stuart McGill
26:15 Spine Health and Training for Longevity
29:45 Core Training: Isometric Holds vs Crunches
32:06 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

Make sure to visit strengthcoach.com to start your free trial and join the longest running forum in the industry. Subscribe for more expert insights into functional training and sports performance.

Ever wondered how to design effective group training programs for adults that actually get results while keeping everyone safe? In this episode of the Strength Coach Podcast, host Anthony Renna sits down with Jess Tollman from Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning to pull back the curtain on the MBSC model for adult fitness. Whether you are a trainer, coach, or gym owner, this deep dive provides a blueprint for managing the unique challenges of the general population.

Brought to you by PerformBetter.com
Head over to their website to get 15% and half off shipping on Competition and Gravity KBs . 
Be sure to save the dates for the upcoming Functional Training Summits in Chicago, Long Beach, and Providence
Check out the “Bring a Friend for Free” deal at www.PerformBetter.com

Jess explains why programming for adults is often more complex than training elite athletes. You will learn about the results of a massive survey of over 350 clients that reveals what truly keeps people coming back to the gym: it is less about the beach body and more about longevity, injury prevention, and community. The conversation covers how to organize a full year of training into repeatable blocks and why the same but different approach is the key to long term retention.

You will also get a masterclass in exercise categorization. Jess breaks down how to use ground based assessments and standing screens to evaluate new clients in real time without disrupting the flow of a group class. From interval conditioning strategies to experimenting with new landmine variations, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can implement in your facility today.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro and Perform Better Special Offers
3:15 Introducing Jess Tollman and the MBSC Method
6:45 Why Adult Programming is a Unique Challenge
11:30 Survey Results: What Adult Clients Really Want
16:00 Learning to Speak Client for Better Buy-In
20:15 Structuring the Training Year into 12-Week Blocks
25:30 The Concept of Same But Different Progressions
29:45 Core Principles: Simple, Smart, and Safe
34:00 Using the Big Four and Core Framework
39:15 Flexibility and Lateralization for Injured Clients
43:45 Empowering Clients to Own Their Progressions
47:30 Ground-Based Assessments: Floor Slides and Leg Lowers
52:15 Standing Screens: Cat Cow and Ankle Mobility
56:45 Pattern Practice: Squat and Lunge Assessments
1:01:30 Conditioning for Adults: Why Intervals Rule
1:06:00 New Exercise Innovations at MBSC
1:10:00 MBSC.tv Monthly Program Reviews and Closing

If you found these insights helpful, make sure to subscribe for more expert coaching content. Head over to MBSC.tv to start your free trial and access full programming templates today!

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?

Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):
Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book
Book a free 10-minute intro call HERE
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/brainstorm
Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/
Subscribe to Mark Fisher’s channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/c/markfisherhumanbeing

How do you safely transition an athlete from injury back to max velocity sprinting without risking a re-injury?

In episode 441 of the Strength Coach Podcast, we dive deep into the art of progression and regression with legendary coach Mike Boyle. We explore why managing speed is often the trickiest part of rehab and how to use specific tools to bridge the gap between slow movements and explosive performance.

Brought to you by PerformBetter.com
Head over to their website to get 15% and half off shipping on Competition and Gravity KBs . 
Be sure to save the dates for the upcoming Functional Training Summits in Chicago, Long Beach, and Providence
Check out the “Bring a Friend for Free” deal at www.PerformBetter.com

In this episode, host Anthony Renna sits down with Mike Boyle to discuss the nuances of returning to play. You will learn about using sleds to create a speed governor for hamstring rehab and how the bike can maintain neurological turnover for athletes with ankle injuries. We also tackle the psychological side of rehab through category substitution, ensuring injured athletes stay integrated with their teams.

Beyond rehab, Mike shares his current experiments at MBSC regarding isometric training. We discuss the difference between yielding and overcoming isometrics and how he is using a new strap system to develop rate of force development. 

Additionally, Pete Dupuis joins the show for a Business for Unicorns Power Play to discuss the dangers of outgrowing your capacity and how to protect your standards as your gym grows.

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?
Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):
Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book
Book a free 10-minute intro call HERE
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/brainstorm
Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/
Subscribe to Mark Fisher’s channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/c/markfisherhumanbeing

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro and Perform Better Special Offers
2:45 Business for Unicorns: Outgrowing Your Capacity
6:12 Coaches Corner: Progressing Rehab to Speed Training
9:30 Using Sleds to Manage Load and Velocity
12:15 Maintaining Leg Turnover with Bike Sprints
14:50 Category Substitution and Training Around Injuries
17:30 Core Exercise Variations for Specific Injuries
19:45 Training the Weekend Warrior vs. The Pro Athlete
22:30 Lifelong Patient Syndrome and Making Smart Decisions
26:15 Isometric Experiments and Rate of Force Development
29:45 Overcoming vs. Yielding Isometrics at MBSC
32:30 Implementing Isos into Every Major Movement Pattern
35:15 Final Thoughts and Hockey Camp Stories

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! For more in-depth videos and the world's most active strength and conditioning forum, visit the links below to start your trial at StrengthCoach.com or MBSC.tv.