The Strength Coach Podcast

Are you ready to challenge your coaching biases and level up your fitness business?

In episode 453 of the Strength Coach Podcast, host Anthony Renna sits down with industry legend Mike Boyle to discuss the evolving landscape of strength and conditioning. From the halls of Springfield College to the business-heavy Alloy Summit, this episode covers everything from functional anatomy to the psychology of pricing.

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We kick things off with a deep dive into the business side of fitness. Mark Fisher joins the show for the Business for Unicorns Fitness Business Power Play segment focused on the often-emotional topic of pricing. He shares specific revenue benchmarks for different training models and introduces the Raise Your Rates Playbook to help gym owners charge what they are worth.

The heart of the episode features Coach Mike Boyle reflecting on his recent speaking engagements. Mike addresses the persistent pushback against unilateral training and explains why a deep understanding of functional anatomy is non-negotiable for modern coaches.
He shares insights on how the quadriceps and hamstrings actually function during athletic movement versus how they are taught in textbooks. We also explore the importance of being an intentional listener, even when you disagree with the source, to foster professional growth and better coaching results.

Whether you are interested in the technical side of sprinting and plyometrics or the operational side of running a small group personal training facility, there is something here for every fitness professional. Learn why admitting you were wrong is a coaching superpower and how to build a coaching tree that lasts for decades.

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?

Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):

Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book

Get a FREE trial of Leads Engine HERE
https://learn.businessforunicorns.com/leads-engine

Learn more about the Unicorn Society HERE
https://businessforunicorns.com/unicorn-society

Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro and The Value of Relationships
3:15 Gym Business Power Play with Mark Fisher
6:45 Pricing Strategies and Raising Your Rates
11:00 Coach Mike Boyle on Recent Lectures
15:30 Defining Functional Training for Athletes
20:00 The Bilateral vs Unilateral Training Debate
24:15 Applying Functional Anatomy to Movement
29:00 Evolution of Fitness Internships and Coaching Trees
33:45 Training Adults for Longevity at Alloy
38:15 The Importance of Open Mindedness in Coaching
41:30 Outro and Upcoming Seminars

Make sure to subscribe to the channel for more interviews with top coaches and fitness business experts. Let us know in the comments your thoughts on the bilateral vs unilateral debate!

Are you accidentally scaring away potential clients before they even finish their first session? Many fitness businesses focus heavily on initial evaluations and data-driven testing, but Coach Mike Boyle argues that getting people comfortable in your space is far more important than any metric you can collect.

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Check out the HUGE Summer Sale at Perform Better- Up to 50% off select items!!
https://www.PerformBetter.com 
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In Episode 452 of the Strength Coach Podcast, host Anthony Renna sits down with legendary coach Mike Boyle to discuss why training should almost always take precedence over testing for adult populations. We explore how to reduce the intimidation factor for new members, the vital role of soft skills in coaching, and why the heaviest weight in the gym is often the front door.

Finally, the conversation shifts to high-performance athletics. We tackle in-season training strategies, discussing the recent trends of removing testing in professional sports like the NHL and how to keep athletes consistent throughout a long season without causing performance-draining soreness.

Pete Dupuis also joins the show for a Business for Unicorns Fitness Business Power play. He shares a unique perspective on how to get more buy-in from your team by investing in their long-term career goals rather than just extracting productivity. If you want a team that stays, you need to learn how to help them grow beyond their current roles.

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?

Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):

Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book

Get a FREE trial of Leads Engine HERE
https://learn.businessforunicorns.com/leads-engine

Learn more about the Unicorn Society HERE
https://businessforunicorns.com/unicorn-society

Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro and 19 Years of the Strength Coach Podcast
2:05 Perform Better Sponsorship and Equipment Deals
4:15 Pete Dupuis on Investing in Your Staff for Better Buy-In
7:30 Creating a Gym Culture Where Employees Thrive
9:45 Coach Mike Boyle on 45 Years of Coaching Lessons
13:10 Why Testing Can Be a Bad Sales Technique
16:50 Prioritizing Client Comfort and the First Impression
20:30 Managing New Clients in a Small Group Setting
24:15 The Role of Soft Skills in Professional Coaching
27:50 One-on-One Assessments vs Group Evaluations
31:15 Why Pro Sports Still Need Fitness Testing
35:00 In-Season Training Strategies and Rep Ranges
38:20 Maintaining Consistency Without Creating Soreness
39:14 Wrap Up and Final Thoughts

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe and leave a review. Visit StrengthCoach.com to start your seven-day free trial and join the longest-running forum in the industry.

Are we living longer but feeling sicker? Join host Anthony Renna and industry expert Kevin Carr as they dive into the critical gap between lifespan and health span. Learn how to bridge this divide with practical, movement-based strategies that turn exercise into long-term medicine for your clients.

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Check out the HUGE Summer Sale at Perform Better- Up to 50% off select items!!
https://www.PerformBetter.com 
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In this episode of the Strength Coach Podcast, Kevin Carr joins us to discuss his latest book, Prescribing Movement as Medicine. We explore why the modern population is struggling with chronic disease despite having more fitness information and tracking devices than ever before. Kevin shares the Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC) approach to keeping adult clients consistent, motivated, and physically resilient as they navigate the aging process.

We also tackle the trending topics of GLP-1 peptides and hormone replacement therapy, discussing how these medical tools should partner with strength training rather than replace it. From programming power for fall prevention to the simple but profound impact of daily step counts, this conversation is a masterclass for fitness professionals who want to help their clients live better, not just longer. Learn how to transition from being a source of information to a source of true behavioral change.

f you enjoyed this episode, please hit the like button and subscribe to the channel for more interviews with top industry experts. Make sure to check out Kevin Carr's new book to help elevate your coaching practice and improve your clients' lives!

You can preorder Kevin’s new book, Prescribing Movement as Medicine: The Professional's Guide to Exercise for Health and Longevity- (out September 28) here- https://a.co/d/06hgd17m

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro and the Information Gap in Fitness
3:15 Meet Kevin Carr: Super Trainer and Author
6:40 The Lifespan vs Health Span Dilemma
9:55 Overcoming Barriers to Consistent Exercise
13:20 Why Information Fails Without Good Coaching
16:45 Strategies for Keeping Adults in the Gym
20:10 The Human Connection in the Age of AI
23:30 Real World Impact: Training for Life Independence
26:50 GLP-1, Peptides, and Hormone Replacement Therapy
30:15 Protecting Muscle Mass During Weight Loss
33:40 Programming Power and Strength for Longevity
37:05 The Importance of Walking and Step Count
40:30 Building Sustainable Habits for Older Adults
44:00 Overview of Prescribing Movement as Medicine

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?

Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):

Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book

Get a FREE trial of Leads Engine HERE
https://learn.businessforunicorns.com/leads-engine

Learn more about the Unicorn Society HERE
https://businessforunicorns.com/unicorn-society

Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/

Welcome to episode 450 of the Strength Coach Podcast with host Anthony Renna. In this episode, we dive deep into the evolution of functional training with legendary coach Mike Boyle as he discusses the upcoming third edition of his landmark book, Functional Training for Sports. Whether you are a professional trainer or an athlete, this conversation offers a masterclass in how training philosophies have shifted over the last two decades.

You can Pre-order the New Functional Training for Sports here- https://a.co/d/0eKeRwPO
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY PERFORMBETTER.COM 
Check out the HUGE Summer Sale at Perform Better- Up to 50% off select items!!
https://www.PerformBetter.com 
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The core of the episode features an in-depth conversation with Mike Boyle. Mike reflects on how his philosophy has changed since the first edition of his book was released in 2004. He redefines functional training as the application of functional anatomy and discusses why certain trends, like unstable surface training, have largely faded away. We explore the transition from machine-based exercises to a functional continuum that emphasizes unilateral movements and tri-planar activity.

Mike also shares his thoughts on why he has moved away from traditional Olympic lifting in many scenarios, favoring trap bar jumps and weighted jumps for explosive power. You will hear about the evolution of core training, the importance of upper body pulling for shoulder health, and why agility training should be less about choreographed drills and more about sport-specific chaos.

Mark Fisher from Business for Unicorns, shares a vital productivity tool for gym owners and trainers: time blocking. Mark explains how to move from reactive mode to proactive growth by protecting your schedule for high-priority tasks. If you have ever felt like you are just putting out fires all day, this segment provides a roadmap to reclaiming your time and focus to build a business and life you love.

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?

Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):

Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book

Get a FREE trial of Leads Engine HERE
https://learn.businessforunicorns.com/leads-engine

Learn more about the Unicorn Society HERE
https://businessforunicorns.com/unicorn-society

Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro and Sponsor Message
2:15 Business for Unicorns with Mark Fisher
5:30 The Importance of Time Blocking
9:45 Interview with Coach Mike Boyle
12:30 Defining Functional Training Today
16:00 Evolution of Training Implements
20:15 Unilateral Training and Injury Prevention
24:00 Rethinking Agility and Speed Drills
29:30 Weighted Jumps vs Olympic Lifting
33:00 Core Training and Functional Anatomy
37:54 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review.
Pre-order the new edition of Functional Training for Sports and level up your coaching knowledge here- https://a.co/d/0eKeRwPO

Are you making your strength programs more complicated than they need to be? In this episode, we dive into why the best training programs often look remarkably similar and how to stop over-engineering your fitness business and your athletes' workouts.
Join host Anthony Renna and legendary coach Michael Boyle for Episode 449 of the Strength Coach Podcast. This week, we explore the nuances of high-level performance training and gym management. 

We kick things off with Mark Fisher from Business for Unicorns, who discusses why having too many systems can actually stall your business growth. Learn how to audit your standard operating procedures to ensure your team can actually execute them with excellence.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PERFORMBETTER.COM 
Check out the HUGE Summer Sale at Perform Better- Up to 50% off select items!!
https://www.PerformBetter.com 

Coach Boyle expands on his recent viral insight: if your athletes are healthy, their programs should look almost identical. We discuss the 80/20 rule of training, the importance of injury prevention, and the evolution from being a cook following a recipe to a chef creating your own. We also talk about the danger of creating program soup by throwing too many random ideas into a single training block.

We also take a deep dive into cardiovascular training. If you are still using the 220 minus age formula to find your max heart rate, you might be leaving progress on the table. Coach Boyle shares his personal data on heart rate training at age 67 and explains how to safely implement interval protocols like 10/20 tempos without overshooting the target or causing unnecessary fatigue.

Whether you are a strength coach, personal trainer, or gym owner, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you simplify your approach and get better results for your clients.

Want to build a fitness business that creates more income, impact, and freedom?
Here are some FREE biz-building resources from our friends at Business for Unicorns (https://businessforunicorns.com):
Get the Little Book of Gym Marketing Secrets HERE-
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/gym-marketing-book
Book a free 10-minute intro call HERE
https://go.businessforunicorns.com/brainstorm
Follow BFU on Instagram HERE
https://www.instagram.com/businessforunicorns/
Subscribe to Mark Fisher’s channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/c/markfisherhumanbeing

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro and Perform Better Summer Sale
3:15 Business for Unicorns: The Danger of Too Many Systems
6:45 Auditing Your Gym Systems with Mark Fisher
9:30 Why Healthy Programs Look Remarkably Similar
13:15 The Chef vs. The Cook: Developing Your Training Recipe
16:45 Avoiding the Trap of Program Hopping and Shit Soup
20:00 Injury Trends and Being Introspective as a Coach
23:15 Rethinking and Learning with Adam Grant Principles
26:30 Why 220 Minus Age is a Flawed Max Heart Rate Formula
29:45 Using Heart Rate Monitors for Real-Time Data
33:00 Safe Interval Training and 10/20 Tempo Protocols
35:45 Comparing Equipment: Assault, Rogue, and Airdyne Bikes
36:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Visit StrengthCoach.com to try the world's best coaching forum for free and check out Perform Better for the biggest sale of the year. If you enjoyed this episode, please like the video and subscribe for more expert coaching insights!

Check out the HUGE Summer Sale at Perform Better- Up to 50% off select items!!
https://www.PerformBetter.com