Rachel Henley has cracked the code on creating evidence based and practical training content and scaling a massive audience. 

We talk about:

-Dealing with unwelcome comments from loved ones, shame triggers, and having tough conversations around this

-The “silly shit” Rachel used to do before finding evidence based fitness and nutrition

-Dealing with comments and beliefs about “ideal bodies”

-Our mission to focus on getting more everyday people into the gym and access to fitness instead of arguing over technical training minutiae

-How to tell who’s a real coach and who’s an entertainer masquerading as a coach. 

And much more

Please follow Rachel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/henleyfitness?igsh=Njl6djZ6dzJ4dzM2

This episode is among the earliest in a significant shift in discussion topics and theme for this podcast going forward. I still believe there’s a goldmine here for coaches, but this is now intended to be a valuable resource to the end users, the enthusiasts, and even the beginners who need our help navigating the often confusing and conflicting world of fitness and nutrition. If you find this valuable, please share it with a friend who needs it. Thank you.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:33 Rachel Henley's Viral Moment
02:50 Navigating Family Criticism
04:05 Empathy and Setting Boundaries
07:14 Shame Triggers and Family Dynamics
09:52 Silly Fitness Mistakes
12:16 The Shortcut to Shred Experience
17:12 Body Image and Public Perception
20:21 Authenticity in Social Media
22:35 Authenticity in Social Media
23:22 Building Trust with the Audience
24:24 Encouraging Gym Confidence
25:53 Critique of Social Media Trends
26:47 Navigating Fitness Misinformation
29:11 Shameless Plug and Advice
34:10 The Problem with Viral Content
46:21 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Dr Joseph Munoz joins to distinguish between how some nutrition misinformation is harmful while others are just incorrect. 

We talk about:

-Debunking the carb - insulin hypothesis 

-Does protein timing matter that much?

-Creating change through identity shift

-Is there any merit within the “Make America Healthy Again”? (without getting political)

-What really moves the needle for your nutrition?

And much more

Please follow Joey on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.joeymunoz?igsh=MTJuaHlsMTdhd2ZtNg==

This episode is among the earliest in a significant shift in discussion topics and theme for this podcast going forward. I still believe there’s a goldmine here for coaches, but this is now intended to be a valuable resource to the end users, the enthusiasts, and even the beginners who need our help navigating the often confusing and conflicting world of fitness and nutrition. If you find this valuable, please share it with a friend who needs it. Thank you.

00:00 Welcome to the Lift Free and Diet Hard Podcast
00:15 Introducing Dr. Joseph Munoz
01:18 Debunking Fitness Myths: Carb Insulin Hypothesis vs. Carnivore Diet
02:52 The Rise and Fall of Carb Backloading
07:30 The Truth About Nutrient Timing and Protein Intake
19:53 The Importance of Lifestyle Changes for Long-Term Health
24:53 Understanding Environmental Influence on Behavior
26:24 The Power of Identity and Accountability
28:48 Navigating Political and Health Debates
30:06 Debunking Food Myths and Misconceptions
35:28 The Role of Regulation and Personal Responsibility
43:41 Final Thoughts and Gentle Myth Busting

Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Steve Keane joins me to discuss his meteoric social media growth and everything that's come with it in his career:

We talk about:

-If Steve would wish this kind of massive social media growth on his worst enemy

-How Steve approaches his growth to monetize and scale his business and livelihood to ensure he doesn't miss the opportunity

-Steve's thoughts on what really goes into app development

-How he deals with the volume of attention and how the experience hasn't fundamentally changed who he is.

-Much more, enjoy

Strength and conditioning coach, author, and mentor Jason Brown guests to talk about Louie Simmons's influence on Jason's career. Jason explains the conjugate method, popularized by Louie, and how to apply core principles of strength and conditioning to general population training. We talk extensively on career development and the balance of learning technical skills plus the soft interpersonal skills to be a successful coach. Jason highlights the value to writing articles to build credibility and grow your career. 

Brett Bartholomew makes is long overdue appearance to talk about his work making the industry better at coaching. Brett shares how he helps our industry avoid burnout by creating a value system to operate within. We discuss the importance of earning a good living as a coach and go into depth with our discussion of communication. 

Mobility educator Tom Morrison guests to talk about all things mobility training. He shares his experience with a major low back injury from poor training and movement through his education in moving better to not only help him lift and perform but coach and educate others. We talk about the importance of the language we use around injury and pain, body awareness and why Tom feels this is essential, and the importance of training specific abilities as we age. 

Hope you enjoy this discussion with Patrick Umphrey, a respected online and powerlifting coach. Patrick shares the power and value of his 20,000 plus member Facebook group Eat, Train, Progress, in how he's been able to help more people and have a fulfilling career. His group highlights a non-traditional type of social media following. Patrick also shares his thoughts on dealing with imposter syndrome. We also have some fun with the presence of predatory business coaches in our industry, and some nuanced thoughts on selling, dealing with objections, and whether you should niche your brand. 

Iconic powerlifter turned entrepreneur and engineer, Chris Duffin makes a rare podcast appearance to share stories. Chris explains how he chooses from the abundance of opportunities thrown his way. He shares the story of how Bearfoot shoes came to be along with his decision making matrix around alignment with his values and vision. 

Justin Farnsworth, Doctor of Physical Therapy is one of the most entertaining and forthright guests across this podcast's history. Justin shares why he chose to work within the fitness industry to make more of an impact than by staying in a clinical setting. We discuss the not always good relationship between physical therapy and the fitness industry, and how to get the most from it. Justin highlights his enthusiasm for working with other fitness professionals, and we discuss some important training concepts for working with older adults. 

Legendary strength coach and educator Dan John joins the podcast to share wisdom from his 40+ years as a coach. Dan talks about getting a wide variety of coaching experience early, of "Being so good they can't ignore you" a famous Steve Martin quote, in regards to cutting through social media novelty, and how he values problem solvers and thinkers, not problem finders and memorizers. Dan also shares some nuanced thoughts about his legacy and the importance of giving credit to people for their work. 

Online coach, podcaster, and writer Sam Forget joins to talk about why we need to pour everything into the client in front of us. Both to ensure great client outcomes but also to ensure great career success. Sam shares how you can use long form content to enhance your career. We talk about travelling and meeting people in the industry, supporting people on the same journey you're on, and how to interact with established industry leaders. Sam shares a lot of powerful wisdom that will make you better.

Jeff Tomko, contributing editor at Muscle and Fitness magazine joins the podcast to talk about being a successful writer in the fitness industry. Jeff shares the delicate balance between being professional and earning opportunities with putting yourself out there and asking. Jeff shares what he looks for in a writer he wants to work with. Jeff also shares how he stays passionate about his personal fitness efforts including his enjoyment of Jiu Jitsu. We also discuss how the industry has changed with the rise of social media and the shift away from print to more online content. 

Chad shares his 19 years of gym ownership and 29 years of personal training experience in a practical lesson on having a successful fitness career. We double down on authenticity, the relationship with the client, the client experience as a whole, and what you need to do to stay in the business you love. We talk about Chad's love of T-shirts and why its ok to wear them as a trainer, depending on your environment. Chad shares the importance of managing your finances early in your career and why owning his gym has been essential to his success. 

Victoria Pal joins me to discuss:

-Her work with celebrity clients

-Attracting and working with high net worth clients

-Being a concierge to her clients

-Educating clients on lifestyle

-Focusing more on longevity for clients

-Longevity in a fitness career

-Mastering the basics while keeping an open mind to progressive lifestyle practice

-plus lots more

Victoria initially hit my radar when shared by her client Adam Jones of my favourite band Tool. While we touch on her work with some big name LA celebrities, we showcase how her career is so much more than her celebrity work.

Kenny Santucci guests to talk about the passion and perseverance of starting his 3rd gym in Manhattan. Kenny talks about why he prioritizes hosting continuing education and why he wants his gym to feel like the show Cheers, "where everyone knows your name". He describes why he started with his community the built the gym around it. We talk about considerations for having a lasting career in fitness instead of eventually going on to a "real job". Kenny also shares his passion behind starting a 3rd t-Shirt/apparel brand. 

Derek Mendoza and Nick Lambe are the hosts of the Raise The Bar conference, so be held Feb 4th - 6th in Orlando Florida. They've assembled an all-star speaking lineup and talk about their passion for and commitment to continuing education and supporting other fitness professionals with educational resources. Derek and Nick talk about why this went mattered, how they worked on it, plus advice for others seeking to grow in the educational space. They also talk about what to look for in a partner to work with on any project or business venture. Barring interference I'll be attending, so hope to see you there. 

David Otey joins the podcast to share his vision to support and educate other fitness professionals to stay within this career path. David shares his recent success in the backdrop of years of coaching, writing, educating, which has most recently led to publishing a book. We talk extensively about how to grow your own career and approach with the attitude of giving as much as possible instead of asking people what they can do for you. This is a can't miss episode if you want to grow your career.

If you listen to just one episode please choose this one with Angela Gargano. Her positive energy, mindset, and philosophies toward brand and career will help you going into the new year. Angela talks about taking a lot of "messy" action, how she's build different tiers and price points for her services, all about her free media and content creation, and ultimately about helping people. 

Nick Tumminello returns to discuss his frustration with the tribalism, dogma, and attitude within certain corners within the fitness industry, corners more concerned with being right than helping the person who seeks guidance. We talk about our issues with language that creates fear around exercise. We discuss why we dislike leaving people feeling like they're dysfunctional or broken. Nick also shares his philosophy behind assessment and his new Movement Performance Assessment, plus some ideas for coaches who want to step into developing education for others in the industry. Nick highlights why he primarily cares about the experience of the client in front of him. 

Jonathan Goodman returns to talk about his recent major business and media pivot. Jonathan shares why you hold a competitive advantage against the big companies simply by being human in your interactions. We discuss why "productive procrastination" is hurting your progress and why you need to build "career capital". Jonathan shares his new energized approach to social media and he's trying to share his lessons. Listen in for more

Don Saladino joins the podcast today to share a lot of kind words about other people and friends in the fitness industry. Yet Don himself has had what feels like a fairytale career. Maybe there's a connection here. Don also shares how he navigates saying yes to opportunities and requests of his limited time. Don shares how valuable his roots in the evidence based fitness industry have been when leveraged across his mainstream reach. Don tells you about the things that don't matter as much along the way, and key pieces to building a great foundation for career success. 

Shane McLean guests to talk about fitness writing. Shane is a coach and fitness writer for Muscle and Fitness, Barbend, and more. Shane shares some of the wisdom of his experience writing and mentoring other writers. We talk about how writing can benefit your career and what it's done for ours. He talks about how to focus on writing for one person first, and finding something you love to write about. 

Dean Somerset returns to share his insights of blending the road to success before social media, with maximizing the benefits social media offers today. Dean highlights the importance of authenticity and not jumping on trends. Dean shares his insights into personal and professional financial wisdom for fitness professionals. Dean also shares details of his upcoming Scientific Application of Mobility Training seminar in Toronto on November 21st.

Dr. Lisa Lewis returns to talk about her work teaching psychology skills to fitness professionals. Lisa talks about what she has in store with her courses and upcoming in-person presentations, as the world opens back up to in-person education. Lisa shares some helpful books and a process to help decide if books and resources are credible. Lisa shares some of her perspective and value as an aligned professional but as an "outsider" to traditional fitness coaching. We discuss just how much of your education should be directed to better understanding of psychology and coaching, and we dive into the importance of self care for people in our industry. 

Sharelle Grant guests to talk about:

-Does creating "better" than already good programs really make a difference or differentiate you with general population clients?

-Why she focuses on good principles of training

-How she leaned into and had success with video based social media

-How she developed an app and should you develop your own

-Thoughts on building a subscription, one to many coaching offering.

Luke Tulloch makes his first appearance to share his enjoyment and process behind his social media content. Luke explains what he means by a subtractive mindset. We discuss why clients and coaches often use too much exercise variety and Luke shares his approach to making his online coaching a meaningful relationship with his clients. 

Luka Hocevar returns to share how attending live fitness events have enriched his career. We've met countless friends and forced valuable industry connections.  Luka is forging ahead with his late September 2021 Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit in Renton, WA and gives a run down of what attendees can expect. I fly down next week to be there. Luka provides some insight into the value of social media growth. 

Danny Lennon guests and shares the value and experience of his 8 years hosting Sigma Nutrition Radio. Danny explains why he's moved deeper into educating within the fitness and nutrition industry, and how he's sustained his passion for his podcast and his overall work. We talk about making good decisions along the way, keeping us on the path as coaches, and how this mirrors the experience of our clients. 

Andy Morgan makes a brilliant appearance talking about why we shouldn't take nutrition advice from Tim Ferriss and Joe Rogan. We talk about his new book The Diet Adjustments Manual, and how Andy developed the ability to take complex technical information and make it accessible. We talk about how to compete against the charlatans of our universe, and an in depth discussion of how to approach filtering the right type of clients for you and your business. 

IFBB Pro and author of Science of Strength Training Austin Current makes his first appearance to talk about how his history of competing and his education molded his career as a coach and educator. We discuss moving away from imagery and brand around our physiques and how to navigate content shift with an established audience. Austin explains how his book came to be and shares his philosophy of creating consistently without any expectation of reward. We talk about how Austin balances his personal brand with that of his business. 

Quinn Henoch, DPT, makes his first appearance to talk about the value of formal and informal education in physical therapy and strength and conditioning. Quinn explains why coaches should show their work early and often, and why you'll never be 100% sure you're right on any strength or therapy prescription. Quinn shares a lot of philosophy about helping people deal with pain and improve performance. 

Krista Scott-Dixon returns in what can only be described as a discussion where existentialism meets practical wisdom about coaching in the current state of our client's lives. Krista explains why growth sucks while you're going though it, how to discuss understanding tradeoffs with clients, and a wild array of other nuanced coaching topics. We also talk about Krista's book Why Me Want Eat. 

Chris Hitchko joins me for a discussion about how to be more successful in your fitness career. From going above and beyond basic certifications, to creating brand and media that resonates with consumers, we have to do more to stand out in an industry that on the surface feels saturated, but isn't truly close to saturated with skilled, caring, integrity based professionals. 

Josh Hillis makes his first appearance to talk about developing skills with our clients around stress/emotional/boredom eating. We talk frameworks for thinking about eating with your values and your identity. Josh talks about translating his body of work and reputation into a growing social media presence. I hope you enjoy Josh's passion and enthusiasm for helping people develop valuable skills around the nutrition and lifestyle. 

Brad Dieter returns(though first appearance on the new format) to chat about The Inland Empire Fitness Conference where we will both be presenting Aug 6th and 7th in Spokane WA. Brad wanders through a series of his thoughts on career success, the benefits of growing a social media brand vs being a pure coach within the umbrella of a successful and growing company like Macros Inc. Brad shares his vision for a better corner of the fitness industry and our role in developing front line preventative health care to meet future demand. 

Christian Thibaudeau returns to talk about his upcoming speaking appearances:

-We will both be speaking at canfitpro's Global Conference in Toronto Aug 9-10, and my conference in Edmonton Sept 13-14 The Evolve Strength-Business and Coaching Conference.

And Christian shares his thoughts on:

-Why he went back to doing more in person coaching and it's value in staying current as an educator

-Traditional gatekeepers of industry authority and current social media potential

-How he got started in writing for T-Nation

-And a big discussion on training tactics, and what ultimately matters and works

-What he means by people "sciencing their way out of hard work"?

Ben Mudge shares how his work on the season 1 set of Game Of Thrones turned into a career in fitness. Ben may look like Thor but shares how his battle with Cystic Fibrosis leaves him identifying more with Captain America. We discuss our recent T Nation article collaboration and philosophy of sharing and abundance mindset. We discuss how Ben's approach to media leaves him more influential and sharing better information to where he's beating the "influencers" at their own game. 

Jordan Syatt returns to share why he's pivoted with his social media. Jordan shares the challenge of dealing with negativity with such a large following. He discusses how he stays grounded in the face of all his success. Jordan explains why his podcasts are his favourite form of media and why he feels it's never to late to start one, or start a career in fitness. We talk Jordan's passion for MMA, in this fun, light hearted catchup. 

Dani Shugart returns to chat about how to become a writer and what it takes to write for T-Nation where she’s an editor. Dani poses a lot of questions about how our industry deals with the infusion of political correctness, cancel culture, and shaming. Check out this thought provoking and enlightening discussion.

Enjoy Joel Jamieson in his first guest appearance. From the corner at UFC championship matches to your ears, Joel shares his expertise in conditioning and heart rate variability(HRV). We discuss Joel's 2009 classic book Ultimate MMA Conditioning and the plans for a new book. We talk in depth of energy system training for MMA fighters and how Joel's work can be applied by coaches for the general population. Joel rounds out the discussion with his thoughts on spectacles like Logan Paul fighting Floyd Mayweather. 

Welcome and enjoy coach, author, and podcaster Mike Millner in a discussion of how to develop credibility beyond just social media content, developing your writing, and if you should start a podcast. Mike dives into a nuanced discussion of how to navigate the challenges of our clients' food environments and lifestyle challenges. 

Listen in for early details on Martin's upcoming book release. You cannot help but feel energized when listening to Martin Rooney's energy and ideas. Martin shares how he went from travelling 150 days a year to turned inward during a challenging year to focus on his family, his organization, and himself. Martin used the time to write a new book "High Ten" his follow up to the highly successful "Coach to Coach". Martin shares how his ability to focus is essential to his success and career development. Martin believes that "you're going to be a professional at something, you decide what". Your choose how you apply your time and energy which leads you to your destination.

James Krieger returns to share practical financial advice for fitness professionals. We wade heavily into the risks and problems with the rise of Crypo in our industry. James details his success with, and approach to trading and the traps to avoid. We talk about how get rich quick mentality ties into the same mentality about losing weight and getting in shape fast. Check out this episode and James's work to learn more about how to develop a long term sustainable approach to your finances. We also talk about how to approach pivoting away from a full time fitness career as your career progresses. 

Listen in as Hannah Gray returns for an informal catch up between 2 old friends who've travelled very divergent paths yet sharing some important common ground. Hannah shares her thoughts on the efforts along her career to become a published writer and industry presenter. We share some wisdom for coaches who aspire to these goals. We discuss important career capital to develop to establish a stand out brand in the industry. 

MBA and RD Sarah Ashman returns for an in depth discussion of career success through the lens of a growth vs fixed mindset combined with an abundance vs scarcity mindset. We also trash the idea of hiding our individual achievements and successes in a tough year for fear of offending others. Sarah also highlights how valuable it is within a fitness career to be skilled at taking complex concepts and translating them into simple messages for the everyday user. 

Dr. Tim DiFrancesco guests to talk about the pros and cons of spending 6 years as the head strength and conditioning coach of the LA Lakers NBA team. Tim fills you in on the unglamorous sacrifices you need to make to work in this world an contrasts life running his own facility in Salem, MA. Tim shares what he means by needing to be in the right place at the right time doing the right stuff. Tim caps this episode off with a break down of why its important as a coach to have a philosophy and a methodology for your work. 

Not only is this an essential episode for coaches, if there ever was an episode that speaks to enthusiasts, this is it.

Dr Susie Spirlock is my guest to share a ton about:

-how evidence based physical therapy has advanced

-the problems with outdated methods

-the appropriate use of passive treatments

-the importance of loading exercise

-the role of your nervous system in outcomes

-important notes on pain and movement

-our nuanced thoughts on assessments

and

-how Susie embraced social media and travelling to events to grow her brand and opportunities to educate

Dr. Allan Bacon of Maui Athletics joins to dive into detail on how coaches can teach beginner and intermediate lifters to know how hard they can push themselves toward true failure. Allan dives into some research and strategies to help you use concepts like percentages, RIR, and RPE with clients. We also go in depth on how to utilize Facebook groups and social media in general to establish authority and serve more people with your knowledge. 

Christian Thibaudeau returns to discuss how to navigate(and in many cases avoid) extremism in the fitness industry. Christian goes far and wide in this animated discussion about how he's managed this past year, how his career direction has evolved, thoughts on doing a great job with online coaching, and dealing with introversion, social anxiety, and low self esteem. 

Sivan Fagan joins the podcast to share her experience and advice in shifting a mostly in-person fitness career to online. Sivan shares her thoughts on how long you need to train in person before you're ready to work online with clients. We discuss the value in long form writing and how to enhance your writing skills. Sivan explains why she believes it's a mistake to try to compete with the "big names" or influencers. Sivan also shares strategy to develop a business training clients in their homes.