The Human Kinetics Podcast

Ice hockey is said to be the fastest sport played on your feet. It is highly dependent on a number of physical qualities such as strength, speed, agility, endurance, and mobility. There are many nuances to playing the sport, and that makes training for hockey unique. In this episode, Boston Bruins head performance coach Kevin Neeld and Quinnipiac University director of athletic performance Brijesh Patel discuss their background as performance coaches and the nuances of training hockey players. The duo was selected as editors by the NSCA for the book, Strength Training for Hockey. Strength Training for Hockey.
Strength Training for Hockey https://ecs.page.link/xKqPh
Kevin Neeld, PhD, CSCS, CPSS, RSCC*D, CMT
Kevin Neeld is the head performance coach for the Boston Bruins, where he oversees the organization's performance training program and sport science initiatives. He previously worked as a strength and conditioning coach with the San Jose Sharks and USA Hockey's women's team. Neeld earned his PhD in human and sport performance from Rocky Mountain University, where his research focused on the relationship between workload and performance in elite hockey. He has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and is the author of Ultimate Hockey Training and Speed Training for Hockey. He has been an invited guest speaker at events hosted by the National Hockey League (NHL), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and USA Hockey. Neeld is certified as a strength and conditioning coach and as a performance and sport scientist through the NSCA.
Brijesh Patel, MA, CSCS, RSCC*E
Brijesh Patel has been an innovator, leader, and highly regarded coach in the health and performance field for over 20 years. His passion for improvement, growth, and development has played a major role in the success and well-being of hundreds of individuals. Patel is a sought-after speaker and consultant as well as a mentor for coaches across all sports. He currently serves as the associate athletic director and director of athletic performance at Quinnipiac University. Patel has built the strength and conditioning department from scratch, instilling his philosophy and approach to creating the best overall environment. He prides himself in speed, strength, balance, and flexibility. Although Patel oversees the strength and conditioning development for all 21 varsity sports at Quinnipiac, he works primarily with the men's and women's basketball and ice hockey teams.
YouTube video version https://ecs.page.link/g5D1Y
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj

The concept of periodization is not new. Precursors of periodized training date back more than 2,000 years ago. G. Gregory Haff is a world-leading expert on periodization, and has spent his career studying, researching, writing about, and teaching the importance of periodization. He compiled much of his life's work into the first resource of its kind, Scientific Foundations and Practical Applications of Periodization. In this episode, he discusses the history of periodization, why it is important, and misconceptions about it.
Scientific Foundations and Practical Applications of Periodization https://ecs.page.link/LXe7K
G. Gregory Haff, PhD, CSCS, *D, FNSCA
Gregory Haff is a professor of strength and conditioning and the course coordinator for the postgraduate degree in strength and conditioning at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, Australia. He has published more than 240 articles, centering his research on performance effects in the areas of strength-training methodologies, performance testing, training theory, and nutritional supplementation.
Haff is a past president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a senior associate editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. He was the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year for Education and Research and the 2011 NSCA William J. Kraemer Outstanding Sport Scientist Award winner. he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with distinction (CSCS,*D), a UKSCA-accredited strength and conditioning coach (ASCC), and an accredited Australian Strength and Conditioning Association level 2 strength and conditioning coach.
Additionally, Haff is a national-level weightlifting coach in the United States and Australia. He serves as a consultant for numerous sporting bodies, including teams in the Australian Football League, Australian Rugby Union, Australian Basketball Association, and National Football League.
Instagram: @doc_haff
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj 

As Dr. Colleen Hacker explains, "The head and the heart are differentiators" when it comes to finding success in competition. Dr. Hacker, author of Achieving Excellence: Mastering Mindset for Peak Performance, has built an accomplished career working with some of the top athletes in the world in the areas of sport psychology and mental performance. In this episode, she explains what it means to be a high achiever, and what it takes to tap into the mental side of competition to reach a higher level of success. 
 
Achieving Excellence: Mastering Mindset for Peak Performance in Sport and Life https://ecs.page.link/hsvJn
 
Colleen M. Hacker, PhD, FNAP, CMPC
Colleen Hacker has served on the United States coaching staff for six Olympic Games as a mental skills coach and performance psychology specialist. She has also served as the mental skills coach to professional, international, and Olympic athletes in a variety of sports including Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), Major League Soccer (MLS), PGA, National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), LPGA, swimming, basketball, lacrosse, crew, speed skating, track and field, and tennis to name a few. She is currently a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Pacific Lutheran University and is a Fellow in the National Academies of Practice, is listed on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry, and is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC).
Dr. Hacker has published more than 45 articles, book chapters, and a book (Catch Them Being Good with Gold medal and World Cup Champion coach, Tony DiCicco), as well as delivered speeches and lectures on the national and international stage. She has worked with numerous Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 corporations as well as civic groups and organizations. Her work is regularly featured on national television outlets such as CNN and ESPN and also in high-profile publications including The New York Times and Washington Post.
 
Dr. Hacker was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Professional Practice Awared from the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). She received the Honor Award from the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports, the Presidential Citation by the American Psychological Association, as well as the Letter of Commendation and the National Award of Excellence from the United Soccer Coaches (USC). ESPNW named Dr. Hacker as one of 30 women in the country who "change the way sports are played." She serves on the National Advisory Board for the Positive Coaching Alliance and on the National Advisory Board for the EPIC Center (Education for Persistence and Innovation Center) at the Teachers College, Columbia University.
YouTube version of the interview https://ecs.page.link/74Jgv
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj
 
 
 
 
 

"Without energy, we are nothing and our ability to manipulate our breathing to control our mental and physical energy separates us from other life forms." Those are the words of Harvey Martin who has used his experience as a former pro baseball player to help others.  Martin's pro baseball career ended early as a result of anxiety and the yips. He has since dedicated his career to teaching others how to manipulate their own breathing and take back control of their mental and physical energy to improve their performance. In this episode, he explains how and why that is possible. You can learn more in his book, Breathe, Focus, Excel.
* Originally recorded January 2024
Breathe, Focus, Excel https://ecs.page.link/EoHsy
Harvey Martin
Harvey Martin is a coach, author, entrepreneur, and podcast host. He has coached and consulted athletes, business executives, and organizations in Human Performance since 2012.
Harvey consulted at every level of college athletics while working in the scouting department of the Milwaukee Brewers organization from 2016 to 2020. In 2020, he began to specialize in training exclusively for professional athletes - Olympians as well as MLB, NHL, and NLF players - working on strength and conditioning, recovery, mental performance, and more.
He has made presentations and led workshops for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies on how to optimize human performance.
In recent years, Harvey became the breathing specialist for the San Francisco Giants, and in 2021, the team set a franchise record with 107 wins in a single season, en route to winning the National League West.
Harvey was a Division I athlete at Central Michigan University (2008-2011) where he received his bachelor's degree. He finished at Minnesota State University, Mankato (2012-2013, where he earned a master's degree and taught courses on coaching theories, strength and conditioning, and team skills.
As an athlete, Harvey was a two-time All-American and was named National Pitcher of the Year before signing to play professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013.
Follow Harvey Martin
Instagram: @harveyjmartin
Website: www.harveyjmartin.com
YouTube video of interview https://ecs.page.link/vLUnd
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj 
 

As coaches, we are leaders of the athletes who have entrusted us with maximizing their potential. Whether you are a strength coach or a sport coach, you have great influence on the athletes you lead. It is important to do so in ways that will support their efforts, build their confidence, and encourage them to be their best. In this episode, NSCA certified trainer Aaron Patterson discusses the importance of effective coaching. He introduces various coaching styles and leadership strategies that will best serve the interests of the athlete. 
 
 
Aaron Patterson, NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS
Aaron Patterson works with Human Kinetics to produce informative and educational content in the areas of health, fitness, strength and conditioning, and sport performance including exercise technique videos, Trainer Talk episodes, Author Talk interviews and Learning with Human Kinetics.
Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has more than 10 years experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach. He holds specialty certifications as a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach (CWPC), Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) educated through the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) and Kovacs Institute. As a track and field coach specializing in jumps and sprints, Aaron is also a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach. In addition, he is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) as he completes the requirements to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.
Additional Resources
Coaching Principles Online course https://ecs.page.link/cYQYC
Social Psychology in Sport, Second Edition https://ecs.page.link/RwyDH
Language of Coaching https://ecs.page.link/V3Z65
Coaching Better Every Season https://ecs.page.link/4MwAK
Winning Ways of Women Coaches https://ecs.page.link/PY1Q5
 

Cortisol has likely come up in consultations with physicians, you've probably read or heard about it in the news, and content about it has filled your social media feeds. But what is the truth behind this hormone naturally produced in your body? Is it good? Is it bad? How can it impact your diet and body composition? All of these questions and more are discussed in this episode exploring cortisol.
 
YouTube version
https://ecs.page.link/rYk9r 
 
Aaron Patterson, NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS
Aaron Patterson works with Human Kinetics to produce informative and educational content in the areas of health, fitness, strength and conditioning, and sport performance including exercise technique videos, Trainer Talk episodes, Author Talk interviews and Learning with Human Kinetics.
Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has more than 10 years experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach. He holds specialty certifications as a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach (CWPC), Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) educated through the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) and Kovacs Institute. As a track and field coach specializing in jumps and sprints, Aaron is also a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach. In addition, he is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) as he completes the requirements to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.
 
Additional Resources
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Fourth Edition https://ecs.page.link/X8euc
Human Kinetics Journals https://ecs.page.link/swHVD
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj 
 
 

Nutrition is a key component to the performance equation that can unlock the path to high-level success. Athletes are bombarded with advice from coaches, trainers, teammates, and social media. It can get confusing and seem overwhelming. As a former Division I athlete and current assistant athletics director and director of sports nutrition for Purdue University Athletics, Lauren Link knows the importance of helping individuals filter through the barrage of information. In this episode, Lauren discusses the importance of including a complete nutrition plan into your training and physical preparation strategy in order to reach your potential. 
 
Nutrient Timing: Fueling Strategies to Unlock Peak Performance
https://ecs.page.link/kFPUE
Lauren Link, MS, RD, CSSD
Lauren Link is an assistant athletics director and the Director of Sports Nutrition for Purdue University Athletics, where she oversees the sports nutrition program and works with football, men's basketball, volleyball, and women's soccer. Her primary duties include providing individual and team nutrition education; providing counseling and medical nutrition therapy as needed; evaluating supplements for legality, safety, and efficacy; assessing body composition and identifying athletes at high risk for bone injury using Lunar iDXA technology; overseeing the fueling stations and athletic dining hall; and managing a seven-figure budget to provide all teams with appropriate nutrition.
In addition to fueling her athletes for success on the playing field, she is also passionate about helping athletes successfully navigate the transition into the real world. She has led multiple initiatives to this end, founding the Purdue student-athlete community garden and spearheading a program called BLAST- for Boiler Life After Sport - designed to help address key components of athletes' transition to "normal" life. In 2017 she published her first book on the subject: The Healthy Former Athlete.
Link graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Health, Nutrition, and Fitness (December 2011) and a Master of Science degree in Health and Kinesiology (December 2019). She was a member of Purdue women's soccer team from 2007 through 2011 and was part of the 2007 Big Ten tournament championship team. She is a registered dietitian (RD) and holds the Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) credential. She is active within the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA) and is a member of the Sports and Human Performance Nutrition (SHPN) practice group.
Instagram: @linktonutrition
Human Kinetics
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj
 
 
 

Much of training in sport and performance is focused on physical preparation, but mental performance can be just as important, and in some cases has a larger impact on overall performance success. In this episode, Mental Performance Consultant and professor Dr. Robert Schinke joined sport performance coach Aaron Patterson to discuss the importance and benefits of mental skills training. In the conversation, Dr. Schinke shares his experiences in practice and research demonstrating the improvements that can be made by incorporating mental performance skills training to performance preparation.
 
Dr. Robert J. Schinke, EdD
Dr. Robert Schinke is a professor of kinesiology and health sciences at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He is a distinguished professor in several high-profile international universities and a Canada Research Chair. He serves as senior coeditor for the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology and editor in chief of the Journal of Sport Psychology in Action. His research has been profiled by leading national and international granting agencies, including the International Olympic Committee’s Advanced Olympic Research Program, and his scientific publications have spanned more than 200 works on the topics of mental health, identity, inclusiveness, life transitions, and context-driven practice. Dr. Schinke currently serves as president of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP). He previously served as president of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and he is a fellow of various sport and exercise psychological societies. Since 2000, Dr. Schinke has worked extensively with world-champion professional athletes as well as athletes at several Olympic Games. His work and ideas have been featured in USA Today, The Globe and Mail, Al Jazeera, HBO, and Showtime, among other media outlets.
 
Aaron Patterson, NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS
Aaron Patterson works with Human Kinetics to produce informative and educational content in the areas of health, fitness, strength and conditioning, and sport performance including exercise technique videos, Trainer Talk episodes, Author Talk interviews and Learning with Human Kinetics.
Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has more than 10 years experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach. He holds specialty certifications as a Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach (CWPC), Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) educated through the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) and Kovacs Institute. As a track and field coach specializing in jumps and sprints, Aaron is also a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach. In addition, he is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) as he completes the requirements to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.
 
Gifted: 8 Steps to Succeeding in Sport, Work, and Life https://ecs.page.link/bpGZf
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj
 
 

What does it take to run a successful fitness business? It can seem overwhelming for some to jump into a management position in the fitness industry. Steven Trotter and Chris Stevenson are experts in the industry, and have built careers on successful fitness facility management, and consulting to help others do the same. In this episode, Steven and Chris discuss important areas to consider when running a fitness business like defining your mission and values, recruiting and retaining top talent, layout and design, and being adaptable in your business. The duo co-authored Fitness Facility Management to serve as a resource to help other managers and fitness professionals be successful in their careers.
Fitness Facility Management
https://ecs.page.link/PkjCB
Steven A. Trotter, MS
Steven Trotter is a global well-being consultant and adjunct professor. With over two decades of experience in the fitness and wellness industry, Trotter is renowned for his expertise in people management and the development of programs and facilities. He founded Globetrotter Wellness Solutions, LLC, in 2017 after seven years of providing independent consulting services. His firm collaborates with universities; health clubs; organizations; and morale, wellness, and recreation (MWR) units to improve organizational and employee well-being and to build systems for success.
Trotter is an international speaker and presenter, regularly presenting at local, state, regional, national, and international conferences on subjects such as facility management, employee engagement, organizational development, project and priority management, and strategic marketing. He is a regular contributor to Campus Rec Magazine and the website of American Counsil on Exercise (ACE). He has served as a subject matter expert for ACE since 2014 and works with the credentialing department to develop and continuously improve the four NCCA-accredited ACE certifications.
Trotter has a master of science degree in health and physical education from Virginia Tech and a bachelor of science degree in exercise science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He holds the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) exercise physiologist certification, four certifications from ACE, and multiple specialty certifications from Les Mills. He is an American Red Cross instructor in CPR, AED, and first aid; a certified mental health first aid trainer; a Green Dot bystander intervention facilitator; and a Gallup-certified strength coach. He is also a continuing education provider with ACE, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).
Instagram: @globetrotterwellness
 
Chris Stevenson, BA, CSCS
Chris Stevenson is the founder of The Empower Group, a comprehensive consulting firm headquartered in Westlake Village, California. The firm specializes in delivering keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and strategic advising services to facilities worldwide. The Empower Group collaborates with facilities of varying scales and types, spanning domestic and international markets. Their core competencies encompass business planning, strategic design, fostering exceptional workplace culture, optimizing staffing strategies, enhancing marketing and sales efforts, refining member experiences, and more.Stevenson has over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, from personal training and group exercise classes to owning and operating a full-service health club. For six years, he was a faculty member at the California Health and Longevity Institute (CHLI), located at the Four Seasons in Westlake Village, California, and named one of the top 10 executive health programs in the nation by Worth magazine. He presented on exercise science and behavioral change and oversaw a team of exercise specialists who performed one-on-one assessments and training sessions for the executives.Stevenson is an international speaker and has presented keynote speeches and breakout sessions in over a dozen different countries and throughout the United States. He regularly presents at fitness and business events, including those of Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA), Athletic Business, IDEA, NASM Optima, and Club Industry. He has written for Club Business International (CBI), Health Club Management (HCH), Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), Club Solutions, and Club Industry, and he is a regular columnist for Athletic Business.He serves on the board of directors of the Health & Fitness Association, the largest nonprofit trade association for the health and fitness industry; the owners committee of IDEA; and the events committee of the Climbing Wall Association. In those roles, he advises on strategic planning, standards, policies, values, and vision to increase the organizations’ benefits to their members.Stevenson has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. He holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is certified as a Technogym master educator.
Instagram: @thechrisstevenson
 
Human Kinetics
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj

In this solo episode, NSCA certified trainer and sport performance coach Aaron Patterson discusses anaerobic training. What is anaerobic training? What is the difference between anaerobic and aerobic training, and what population of individual or athlete should be utilizing anaerobic training? Aaron answers these questions and more in this episode. See links to additional resources on anaerobic training and power development below.
 
Aaron Patterson, NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS
Aaron Patterson works with Human Kinetics to produce informative and educational content in the areas of health, fitness, and sport performance, including exercise technique videos, Trainer Talk, Author Talk interviews, and Learning with Human Kinetics. 
Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aaron has over 10 years experience as a personal trainer and sport performance coach and holds specialty certifications in weightlifting and speed and agility. He is also a Certified Tennis Performance Specialist through the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) and Kovacs Institute. In addition, Aaron is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA), is a Certified American Sport Education Program Coach, and coaches jumps and sprints in track and field.
 
Additional Related Resources
NSCA's Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Fourth Edition https://ecs.page.link/X8euc
High-Performance Training for Sports, Second Edition https://ecs.page.link/KgqN6
Developing the Athlete https://ecs.page.link/F8NWi
Scientific Foundations and Practical Applications of Periodization https://ecs.page.link/LXe7K
Human Kinetics Journals https://ecs.page.link/swHVD