In this episode of the “Strength Coach Collective” podcast, host Chris Guerrero talks with veteran coach Jason Leydon, founder of CrossFit Milford and Conquer Athlete.

Jason has coached a number of elite athletes throughout his career, including CrossFit Games podium finishers, international record-holding powerlifters, USA Weightlifting national-team members, All-American wrestlers and state-champion basketball players.

Today, Jason dives into what truly sets great coaches apart—no matter who their clients are: a deep understanding of training principles, the ability to adapt to the individual, and a commitment to community and connection.

He explains why chasing methods before mastering the basics can limit a coach’s potential, and he shares tips for building a strong coaching career and avoiding burnout.

Whether you’re working with competitive athletes or the general public, this episode will challenge you to reflect on how you can help your clients best.

Links

Strength Coach Collective

1:32 - Tailoring training for diverse athletes

13:21 - Lessons from coaching elite athletes

26:56 - Avoiding burnout as a coach

38:37 - Most common coaching mistakes

42:30 - The future of strength & conditioning

Today, Michael Rutherford joins “Strength Coach Collective” to tell coaches how to help their clients get stronger and recover better.

Host Kenny Markwardt sits down with Michael—aka “Coach Rut”—to unpack decades of lessons in strength training and conditioning.

Coach Rut shares his journey from his early days in college strength coaching to pioneering the Max Effort Black Box (MEBB) method, which blends conjugate strength work with CrossFit-style conditioning.

He says building strength first is non-negotiable for effective conditioning and explains why so many athletes struggle to throttle back on intensity when their recovery demands it.

You’ll hear how Coach Rut's 2x2x2 training model helps athletes make progress without burning out and why HRV tracking—when done right—can revolutionize individualized programming.

Listen to hear all of Coach Rut’s no-nonsense insights, and for more support, join the Strength Coach Collective via the link below.

Links

Strength Coach Collective

00:52 - Coach Rut’s background

17:22 - Max Effort Black Box

20:08 - Building strength first

38:05 - The role of HRV in training

50:27 - Tips for new trainers

Some see kettlebells as just another piece of equipment, but Pat Damiano believes they should be at the core of strength training.

In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Chris Guerrero sits down with Pat, a fitness coach who specializes in kettlebells and has amassed over 400,000 followers on social media.

Pat shares how kettlebell training evolved from a supplemental tool to the foundation of his coaching and explains why they are so effective for strength and conditioning.

He breaks down the most common mistakes coaches make with kettlebells, from only programming swings to not challenging clients with heavier weights, and he lists the core movements every coach should master.

Chris and Pat also discuss how kettlebells can be used to improve athletic performance, build resilience and create effective training sessions for clients with limited time.

Tune in to hear Pat’s top tips for incorporating kettlebells into your training program with confidence.

Links

Strength Coach Collective

02:56 - Evolution of Pat’s training philosophy

07:29 - Biggest kettlebell mistakes

17:32 - Top three kettlebell movements

26:12 - Kettlebell certifications and resources

32:54 - How to start incorporating kettlebells

If you could spend just 12 minutes with a client and know exactly what movements they should be doing, would you invest that time?

In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt is joined by Brett Jones from Functional Movement Systems to discuss how coaches can use the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) to help clients train more effectively.

Brett explains how the FMS can be used to identify movement quality, why many injuries stem from poor mechanics rather than overuse and how simple movement corrections can lead to better long-term performance.

The two also discuss the importance of assessing movement before adding load and how to communicate findings with clients.

Tune in to hear practical insights you can apply to your coaching to improve client results while reducing the risk of injury.

Links

Strength Coach Collective

00:58 - Brett’s background and FMS

06:43 - Move well first, then often

19:30 - Seven patterns of FMS screen

28:00 - Correcting movement patterns

34:38 - Training should enhance life

45:22 - Fundamental capacity screen

The secret to building a profitable coaching business isn’t acquiring more followers—it’s providing more value for the right clients.

Today on “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt is joined by Jonathan Goodman, founder of the Personal Trainer Development Center and prolific author, whose titles include “The Obvious Choice” and “Ignite the Fire.”

Jonathan discusses why focusing on likes and followers is a losing game and explains how the most successful coaches build their businesses through relationships, referrals and high-value services instead.

He breaks down the biggest financial mistakes trainers make, including undercharging for their expertise, leaving money on the table with their current clients and misunderstanding passive income.

Then Jonathan shares strategies for generating wealth in the fitness industry, such as increasing the value of current clients, moving away from a session-based model and setting up recurring revenue streams.

Tune in to hear actionable tips for breaking free from the social media grind and building a profitable coaching career.

Links

“The Obvious Choice"

Strength Coach Collective

4:44 - The role of content creation

12:50 - Three reasons clients quit

19:23 - Hybrid coaching services

28:40 - How to increase client value

36:19 - Scaling a fitness business

Fitness coaches want to help their clients move better and stay injury-free, but without a structured movement screening process, they’re often guessing instead of making informed coaching decisions.

In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt sits down with gym owner and fitness coach Derek Batman to talk about the role of movement screening in coaching.

Derek shares how he realized his gym lacked a structured screening process and why he implemented table screenings, Functional Movement Screen (FMS) testing and baseline fitness evaluations to help his coaches build smarter programming.

Kenny and Derek discuss how movement screenings help bridge the gap between fitness and physical therapy, why coaches should focus on individualized exercise selection instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, and how even a basic screening process can dramatically improve client outcomes.

If you’re a gym owner or coach looking to level up your onboarding, programming and retention, this episode will equip you with the knowledge you need to start implementing movement screens right away.

Links

Strength Coach Collective

01:36 - Why movement screening matters

12:26 - Table screening

22:00 - Functional movement screening

33:30 - Baseline fitness testing

36:25 - From screening to programming

Why do some athletes thrive while others struggle with the same workout? It all comes down to energy systems.

In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” Nathan Holiday, founder of Level Method, breaks down a simple yet powerful framework for understanding and using energy systems in coaching.

He introduces the VPE model (ventilation, plumbing and electricity) and describes how it helps coaches assess, scale and progress workouts to overcome barriers to performance.

He also explains how to identify what is holding an athlete back, whether it's strength, stamina or aerobic capacity, and then adjust training accordingly.

Nathan clarifies that scaling doesn’t just mean modifying movements—the key is to preserve workout intent while ensuring athletes are challenged at an appropriate intensity.

Listen to learn how you can use energy systems to improve your coaching and build more effective programs for your clients.

For more information, check out Level Method using the link below or email Nathan at Nathan@levelmethod.com.

Links

Level Method

Strength Coach Collective

01:04 - Energy systems analogy

12:33 - Modifying workouts

16:27 - Foundation of great coaching

26:01 - Applying these concepts

34:46 - Progression of energy systems

Want to help clients stay strong, mobile and independent for life?

In this episode of “Strength Coach Collective,” host Kenny Markwardt sits down with legendary weightlifting coach Mike Burgener—better known as “Coach B”— to discuss the importance of strength training at any age.

Coach B starts with the story of how he got started in weightlifting and coaching, and he explains how Olympic lifts improve athletic performance and mobility.

Then he lays out how he coaches his own “Geezer Group” using modified Olympic lifts and functional exercises. Their training focuses on maintaining quality of life and preventing injury—especially falls.

He also touches on the role of nutrition in longevity, sharing his personal journey of cutting out processed foods and sugar.

Coach B’s personal goal? To live to 100—and to still be functional and strong.

Tune in for practical insights on lifelong strength training.

Links

Strength Coach Collective

00:48 - How Coach B got into weightlifting

10:05 - The “Geezer Group”

18:15 - Why “geezers” seek Coach B

27:00 - Being healthy and mobile

43:33 - Working with an older population