The Human Kinetics Podcast

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
 
 
 

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