The Human Kinetics Podcast

Benefits of Mental Performance Training with Dr. Robert Schinke

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
 
 

How to Successfully Manage a Fitness Facility with Steven Trotter and Chris Stevenson

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

Anaerobic Training: Meeting the specific demands of speed and power sports

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
 
 
 

Five Pillars of Health and Wellness with John Graham

Staying fit and healthy (mentally and physically) is important to avoid illness and disease, and for longevity. It can seem overwhelming at times. In this episode, John Graham, trainer and co-author of Metabolic Training, joined NSCA certified trainer and sport performance coach, Aaron Patterson, for a discussion on the Five Pillars of Health and Wellness.
 
John Graham, MS, ACSM, EP-C, CSCS*D, FNSCA
John has enjoyed an accomplished 40-year career in the health, fitness, and strength and conditioning industry. He has served in many roles with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), including as the board vice president, secretary/treasurer, and chair for the certification committee, conference committee chair, and nominations committee. He also holds leadership positions with American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Medical Fitness Association (MFA). He currently serves as associate editor of NSCA's Strength and Conditioning Journal.
In addition, Graham is a senior network administrator in lifestyle health and wellness, medical fitness, fitness and sports performance at St. Luke's University Health Network in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is a senior contributor at SportsEdTV. Graham has authored or contributed to local, regional, and national peer-reviewed and popular publications on chronic conditions and disorders, health, fitness, and sports conditioning. 
 
Metabolic Training
https://ecs.page.link/MvHw9
 
Aaron Patterson, NSCA-CPT, CWPC, CSAC, CTPS
Aaron Patterson works with Human Kinetics to produce informative and educational content in the areas of health and fitness 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.
 
Human Kinetics
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj 
 
 
 

An Encyclopedia of Knowledge: Dr. Jim Stoppani discusses training methods for hypertrophy, strength, and fat loss

Dr. Jim Stoppani is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the science of training. He has written thousands of articles on exercise, nutrition, and health, was a co-author for the New York Times best seller, LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle, as well as author of Stronger Arms & Upper Body, PrayFit, and Essentials of Sports Nutrition and Supplements. This was all after earning degrees  and from University of Connecticut doing postdoctoral work at Yale University School of Medicine. In this episode, Dr. Stoppani discussed his extensive background from his first experiences training to learning from some of the best in the industry, and eventually writing his latest book, Jim Stoppani's Encyclopedia of Muscle and Strength. He breaks down the differences in training for hypertrophy, strength, and fat loss.
 
Disclaimer: There was a slight delay in recording that occasionally sounds like Jim and Aaron are talking over each other. This was an audio issue that was unable to be corrected after the recording.
 
Jim Stoppani, PhD
Jim Stoppani is a leading authority on exercise science, sport nutrition, and supplementation. He received his doctorate in exercise physiology with a minor in biochemistry from the University of Connecticut. After graduation, he served as a postdoctoral research fellow at Yale University School of Medicine, where he investigated the effects of exercise and diet on gene regulation in muscle tissue. For his research he was awarded the 2002 Gatorade Beginning Investigator in Exercise Science Award by the American Physiological Society. From 2002 to 2013, Stoppani was the senior science editor for Muscle and Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Flex magazines. He is the owner of JYM Supplement Science.
 
Connect with Dr. Jim Stoppani
Instagram: @jimstoppani
TikTok: @dr_jimstoppani
X: @JimStoppani
 
Jim Stoppani's Encyclopedia of Muscle and Strength, Third Edition
Available on the Human Kinetics website: https://ecs.page.link/JUohF
 
Human Kinetics
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj
 
 

Developing Power with Paul Comfort, PhD

Power is crucial for all competitive sports. It is usually the primary goal of all athletes whether training to increase a vertical jump, increasing speed, or protecting the line of scrimmage in American football. Paul Comfort, PhD, has trained athletes with this goal in mind, researched ways to help them improve, and was the editor for NSCA's Developing Power, Second Edition. In this interview, Paul discusses the importance of training for power, differences and similarities of power development for different sports, and how training should be individualized for the athlete.
 
Paul Comfort, PhD, CSCS, *D
Paul Comfort is a full professor in strength and conditioning at the University of Salford and is an adjunct professor at Edith Cowan University. He is a founder and accredited member of the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and was a member of the NSCA board of directors from 2000 to 2023. He is a senior associate editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and sits on the editorial board of numerous other journals. Comfort has presented extensively at conferences around the world, coauthored over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, and served as the editor of four books.
Instagram: @paulcomfort1975
X: @PaulComfort1975
Developing Power, Second Edition
Developing Power provides the latest research-based recommendations for assessing and training for muscular power. You'll learn how to apply assessment protocols for jumps, throws, and ballistic exercises and how to apply the result to designing programs to address specific athletic needs.
https://ecs.page.link/eW9bG
 
Human Kinetics 
https://ecs.page.link/is5v
 

Developing the Core with Dr. Jeff Willardson

A strong core is vital and a necessity for elite-level athletes. Research has established a direct correlation between core strength, performance, and injury risk reduction. Dr. Jeff Willardson began focusing on various areas of strength and conditioning while a professor at Eastern Illinois University but became particularly interested in the benefits of training the core. In this interview, Dr. Willardson details some of those benefits and talks about the recently released NSCA Developing the Core, Second Edition. Willardson edited and contributed to the book.
 
Jeffrey M. Willardson, PhD, CSCS, *D
Jeff Willardson is an associate professor in the health and human performance department at Montana State University-Billings. He teaches biomechanics, exercise physiology, research methods in health and human performance, kinesiology, and foundations of exercise science. He received a PhD in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis in exercise and wellness from Arizona State University in 2005 and was named the Outstanding Graduating Doctoral Scholar. He has co-authored over 120 scientific manuscripts examining different aspects of resistance training for improving health and athletic performance.
Developing the Core, Second Edition
https://ecs.page.link/i7Dzm
Video version
https://ecs.page.link/ydz2F
Human Kinetics
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj
 
 

Importance of Core Training with Leslee Bender

Leslee Bender is a 40-year veteran in the fitness industry, and the 2020 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, and author of Vital Core Training. She is also the creator of the Bender Ball which she created after realizing the importance of core training. In this interview, Leslee explains the importance of implementing core movement training into your program, taking her first fitness class with Jane Fonda, and how fitness has evolved. Learn more in her book, Vital Core Training.
 
Leslee Bender, ACSM, NASM, FAFS, FAI, NCPC
Leslee Bender is a 40-year veteran in the fitness industry and recipient of the 2020 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year award. She is the co-author of I Am Ageless Now, the owner of Ageless Now Academy, and the creator of the Bendor Method of training, using the Bender Ball.
Bender has presented worldwide and has appeared on national television. She has filmed video content for many companies, including Savvier, IDEA, Reebok, SCW, Ageless Academy, and more. The creator of Barre Above Pilates training and co-creator of Barre Above through Savvier Fitness, she has certified and trained thousands of fitness professionals internationally.
Follow Leslee Bender
Facebook: @LesleeBenderFitness
Instagram: @lesleebender
Website: benderball.com
Vital Core Training
https://ecs.page.link/TEcgc
Human Kinetics
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj

Yogo Through the Lens of Menopause with Niamh Daly

Based on personal experiences and those of her students, yoga teacher Niamh Daly let her passion for helping others guide her to research and explore the true benefits of yoga for menopause. What she found allowed her to step outside the box of the traditional yoga teachings and into the new world of teaching based on the needs of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. In this interview, she explains how yoga can support symptom relief, health, and self-esteem to those going through perimenopause and menopause.
Learn more in her book, Yoga for Menopause and Beyond.https://ecs.page.link/a6U4M
 
Niamh Daly
Niamh has been teaching since 2004 under the banner of Yinstinct Yoga. When her own perimenopause began in 2015, she saw there was very little consideration in the yoga world for the evolving needs of women in menopause and beyond. To fill that need, she developed her Yoga for the Stages of Menopause program and in 2020 launched her yoga teacher training (YTT) of the same name, which has now trained hundreds of teachers worldwide. She also runs a continuing professional development course on yoga for bone health and menopause awareness courses for psychotherapists and fitness professionals.
 
Connect with Niamh
Instagram: @yinstinctyoga
Website: https://yinstinctyoga.com
 
Human Kinetics
https://ecs.page.link/is5vj 

The Importance of Soft Skills in Training and Coaching with Lee Boyce

The science behind training will always play a large role in the success of both the athlete and coach, but soft skills are a big factor that aren't always given the attention they deserve. In this episode, certified trainers Aaron Patterson and Lee Boyce (also a co-author of Strength Training for All Body Types along with Melody Schoenfeld) discuss the importance of soft skills in training and coaching.
 
Lee Boyce
Lee Boyce is a strength coach and educator based in Toronto, Canada. He has been helping clients and athletes with strength and conditioning, sport performance, and hypertrophy since 2007. He has developed international recognition as a trainer and as a prolific fitness writer. His expertise has seen him published over 1,200 times by some of the largest publications in the world of fitness and lifestyle media, including, Men's Health, Oxygen, Train Magazine, Inside Fitness, Shape, Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Men's Journal, Esquire, Strong Fitness Magazine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Personal Training Quarterly.
As a college professor, he encourages critical thinking and a departure from the confines of one-size-fits-all, rule-based exercise science advice.
Lee's Resources
Strength Training for All Body Types (co-authored with Melody Schoenfeld): https://ecs.page.link/RVNB3
Lee Boyce website: https://www.leeboyce.com
Instagram: @coachleeboyce