The Human Kinetics Podcast

Old-school Training in a Modern Era, with Christian Thibaudeau and Tom Sheppard

Strength Training used to be simple. People simply focused on lifting the heaviest weights possible to build strength. Trainers and co-authors of The Overload System for Strength, Christian Thibaudeau and Tom Sheppard, are getting back to the old-school training methods that have provided results for decades. In this episode, the duo discusses why those old-school methods still make sense today and how to incorporate them into your training.
The Overload System for Strength https://ecs.page.link/XUXNS
Christian Thibaudeau
Christian Thibaudeau is a strength and conditioning coach with over 22 years of experience. He has taught seminars in over 20 different countries and has worked with athletes in 28 sports at all levels - high school to professional and Olympic athletes - as well as the everyday lifter. His training has also led him to work with competitors in the CrossFit Games and the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition. An athlete himself, competing in football, rugby, golf weightlifting, and bodybuilding, Thibaudeau is the author of several strength and conditioning books, including The Black Book of Training Secrets, Theory and Application of Modern Strength and Power Methods, High Threshold Muscle Building, and The Maximum Muscle Bible, in addition to multiple training DVDs. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from Quebec University, where he also worked as a research assistant before moving on to full-time coaching.
Tom Sheppard
Tom Sheppard is head coach at Thibarmy and works with a wide variety of high-level athletes from all backgrounds. His philosophy is based on learning how to use the body as one integrated unit and optimizing athletes' lifting mechanics based on their body type. This approach has brough him particular success in the sport of powerlifting, where he has produced countless British, European, and world champions and record holders. In addition to his role at Thibarmy, he also works closely with EliteFTS, creating educational material, working with high-level lifters to improve their performance, and delivering seminars on the international stage, including the 2022 SWIS Symposium.
Watch on YouTube https://ecs.page.link/FXyuz
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj
 
 
 
 
 
 

Enhance your yoga experience with props, with Jenny Clise

Regardless the form of yoga you prefer, using props can supply you with a limitless variety of ways to customize your practice. In this episode, certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) Jenny Clise discusses yoga, yoga therapy, and the benefits of using yoga props. She explains that incorporating props can mean using a wall, chair, blocks, and anything within your imagination. The possibilities to expand your practice are limitless. She used her expertise of over 1,000 hours of training and 12 years as a yoga teacher to help you get the most out of your practice in her book, The Complete Guide to Yoga Props.
 
The Complete Guide to Yoga Props https://ecs.page.link/WhFcU
Jenny Clise
Jenny Clise is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) with over 1,000 hours of training. She has been teaching yoga since 2012 and completed her yoga therapy training at Prema Yoga Institute. She integrates therapeutic principles into her practice, making yoga accessible and inclusive for all students. Jenny's approach prioritizes individual needs and encourages self-discovery through mindful movement, breath work, and props. Her teaching style emphasizes building from a strong foundation, finding alignment based on individual needs, and safely guiding students through more challenging postures. Jenny believes in cultivating an intentional practice that nurtures both physical and mental strength. By offering her students and clients personalized guidance and encouragement, Jenny helps them find their own paths to wellness. Beyond the studio, Jenny is an avid traveler who leads yoga retreats in beautiful locations worldwide. Her love for adventure complements her teaching, offering students unique experiences to deepen their practice in nature. As an experienced writer, she regularly contributes to Yoga Journal, sharing insights on yoga, meditation, and wellness.
Instagram: @jennyclise_
Human Kinetics https://ecs.page.link/is5vj

Getting Lean, Strong, and Confident with Nike Global Trainer, Betina Gozo

Strength training can be intimidating. Walking into a gym and being unsure of what to do, how much to lift, and filtering through the constant barrage of fitness trends to determine fact from fiction can be daunting. Nike Global Trainer Betina Gozo has over a decade of experience training thousands of women, and has gone a step further in educating women on strength training with her book, Women's Muscle and Strength: Get Lean, Strong, and Confident. In this episode, Betina discusses how she got started in the fitness industry, why she made the transition from being a rockstar in the music industry to a rockstar in the fitness industry, and how she has helped women become more confident in the weightroom and in everyday life.
Women's Muscle and Strength: Get Lean, Strong, and Confident 
https://ecs.page.link/AQj4X
Betina Gozo Shimonek
Betina Gozo Shimonek has over a decade of experience as a certified trainer. She has worked for over 10 years as a Nike Global Trainer, programming and consulting for the brand, and she was featured in the Nike Training Club app leading a popular Strength for Beginners program. In 2016, she won the Women's Health Next Fitness Star contest. She published The Women's Guide to Strength Training in 2017, and also partnered with Prevention magazine in 2019 to create Get Strong With Betina Gozo, a four-week workout DVD for beginners and aging people who want to stay active.
Gozo cohosts the lifestyle podcast Beyond the Routine alongside her husband, Nic. They also created an accessible performance training platform, LiNe Up With Us. She was one of the original 21 trainers featured on the Apple Fitness+ team, teaching weekly strength and core workouts and leading the services' Workouts for Beginners program. She is also a contributor to the Nike Well Collective, which focuses on five pillars of holistic fitness: movement, mindfulness, nutrition, rest, and connection.
She is passionate about empowering women to work out in any stage of their lives. From killer workouts to tips on how to navigate the weight room, she shares her expertise to help women get the most out of their resistance workouts. She also travels the world, empowering and connecting women through her women's-only strength training workshops and women's strength training camps.
Where to find Betina Gozo Schimonek
Instagram: @betinagozo
YouTube: @betinagozotv
TikTok: @betinagozoshimonek
Human Kinetics 
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj

Strength Training for Hockey with Kevin Neeld and Brijesh Patel

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

Importance of Periodization with G. Gregory Haff, PhD

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 

Achieving Excellence through Mental Skills Training with Dr. Colleen Hacker

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
 
 
 
 
 

Optimize your Performance by Breathing with Harvey Martin

"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 
 

The Value of Effective Coaching

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
 

Exploring Cortisol: Benefits and Misconceptions

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 
 
 

Importance of Nutrient Timing with Lauren Link, RD, CSSD

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