CHALLENGER STRENGTH - Muscles & Management Podcast

Muscles & Management Podcast

Muscles and Management takes an in depth look at all things training and business.

Gerry DeFilippo is a gym owner from northern New Jersey with a business degree in management from Rutgers University. He started his gym/sports performance business during his last semester of business school and almost three years later he runs the day-to-day business aspects of Challenger Strength as well as heading the strength training.

This podcast will take on any and all topics in both strength training, personal fitness and business and welcome the perspective of some of the best coaches and business minds in the industry. Whether you are an aspiring gym owner, athlete or coach you will enjoy all aspects of this podcast as we dive into the "ins and outs," of the sports performance industry as well as what it takes to excel in business.

Episode 154 Grant Darnell: Air Force Special Ops. Head of Strength and Conditioning

5/26/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8574596

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes Air Force Special Ops. Head of Strength and Conditioning, Grant Darnell, to talk various areas surrounding strength and conditioning (programming and training) AND career aspects of the field.

To start, Grant details his experience in the field over the past decade, including his most recent eight year stint at Wayne State working with the football team. The two discuss movement quality and Grant's powerlifting background as well as using social media as a coach.

Then, the conversation turns to baseball and strength and conditioning being behind when it comes to perceptions and what baseball players need. From heavy lifting to lifting for pitchers, the two tackle myths and misconceptions about training for baseball players.

To finish up, Grant touches on building a training schedule around a team and their sport activities and tips for strength coaches on how to handle these situations.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

3:30 - Intro on Grant
5:05 - Training Soldiers vs Young Athletes
15:00 - Movement Quality
20:10 - Social Media
25:00 - Baseball is still behind the times
31:00 - Baseball & Lifting Heavy
40:00 - Building a schedule around team activities
49:20 - Body Weight fluctuations and Gerry’s Weight Loss

Episode #153 Mental Health and Improving Athlete Performance with Philadelphia Phillies' Mental Skills Coach Hannah Huesman

5/19/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8446671

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes Philadelphia Phillies Mental Skills Coach, Hannah Huesman, on the show to talk everything pertaining to mental health and improving mental health performance for athletes.

To start, Hannah discusses her journey into the field, education and the things she has learned both in AND out of school that has shaped her outlook of human mental health, particularly for athletes. From there, Hannah details a bit of the difference between working with normal, everyday people and athletes, and how it is also connected when it comes to certain aspects of human behavior.

From there, the conversation turns to some key aspects of mental health performance for athletes including taking risks (both on and off the field), how to equip yourself with tools to succeed, everything pertaining to failure and some of the biggest struggles players tend to have.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

4:15 - Knowing How to Shut Off
7:40 - Authenticity and Realness
14:20 - Hannah’s Background
19:45 - Difference Between Normal Clients and Working with Athletes
23:40 - Hannah’s Path to Today
27:00 - Follow Your Gut & Taking Risks
35:20 - Equipping Athletes with the Tools Needed to Succeed
40:40 - Having a Plan for Failure
45:15 - Biggest Struggles Players Tend to Have
52:00 - Final Thoughts

Episode #152 The Process and Journey from 88 to 95 mph with ETSU Pitcher Hunter Townsend

5/12/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8446664

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes on former remote trainee and Eastern Tennessee State Right Handed Pitcher Hunter Townsend on the show to discuss his entire journey as a pitcher and the process involved in taking him from full UCL reconstruction surgery and a "mid 80's," arm to 95 mph.

Hunter and Gerry talk about how they first met and connected and their work together for the better part of two years. The two discuss the thought process behind Hunter's training and the plyometric and sprint variations that were pivotal to improving Hunter's athleticism and power output.

From there, Hunter details the research and proactive mindset that lead to his learning/development of his own routine when it comes to throwing and the ideas and theories that lead him to constructing his own plan. He then talks about how this worked in conjunction with his strength programming.

Lastly, the conversation turns to the idea of the mentality you need to have when you may not be a genetically gifted athlete and the process of going "all in," and doing whatever it takes (and maybe trying some interesting things) to get the results you NEED to get to the next level.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

4:30 - Hunter’s History and Path to College Baseball
9:50 - Hunter’s Early Mindset and Decision to Branch Out
15:45 - Ucl Construction
21:00 - Hunter & Gerry Meet
30:25 - Bench Press
32:10 - Hunter and Sprinting
37:00 - Gerry’s Take on Dynamic Movement
50:00 - Getting on a Good Schedule as a Pitcher
1:10:00 - Recovery
1:05:45 - Hunter’s Last Piece of Advice

Episode #151 Balancing Weight Gain and Continued Speed and Power Improvements with Cal Football's Brian Johnson

5/5/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8446660

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Cal Football Sports Performance Coach Brian Johnson comes on the show to give his take on building size and adding weight to an athlete without adversely impacting their speed and power output.

To start, Brian talks a bit about the process of starting at a new school or with a new organization and the challenges that can come with that. He also touches on his development as a coach and how his own college and pro playing career shaped him as a coach.

From there, Brian talks a bit about adapting as a coach when things change and then the conversation turns to adding weight to an athlete's frame while also keeping their speed and power output in mind.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

3:20 - Intro for Brian
5:51 - Process of Coming to a New Place
11:00 - How to Handle Job Opportunities
17:50 - Brian’s Time in the NFL
22:30 - Brian’s Development as a Coach
34:01 - Adapting as a Coach
45:20 - Testing and Using Data
53:00 - Workload Management
1:00:05 - Final Thoughts

Episode #150 Preparing Contact Sport Athletes with University of Maryland Football Director of Sports Performance Ryan Davis

4/28/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8331408

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes University of Maryland Football Director of Sports Performance, Ryan Davis, to touch on preparation of contact sport athletes.

To start, Ryan touches on his own athletic experiences and education through his journey up the ladder in the field and how both impacted/shaped him as a coach.

From there, the conversation turns to preparing contact sport athletes (mostly American football) for the rigors of sport and what they face on-field. Whether it is speed training, energy systems, intensity of gameplay or physical contact preparation, Ryan and Gerry detail much of the process involved in preparing contact sport athletes through an off-season AND during the season.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management

Episode Timestamps

Episode #149 How We "Made Gerry Ripped Again," with Julian LoCasto

4/21/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8331401

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Julian Lo Casto is back on the show to detail the ENTIRE process of the project known as "Make Gerry Ripped Again."

To start, Gerry brings the listener through the past few years of his life and some of the habitual changes that occurred that have altered his diet and unfortunately led him to lose control of his physique and weight.

From there, Julian hits on some common topics such as losing weight the "right," way vs. a rushed fad diet and the implications that can have for long term success. Additionally, the conversation turns to protein intake and how high level protein intake can be a major piece of a successful nutritional program.

To finish up, Julian and Gerry bounce in and out of what went into Gerry's journey losing roughly 45 pounds over the past 6 months and the learning points the listeners can take for their own nutrition journey and the nutritional programming of athletes they may coach.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

2:48 - Julian Introduction
5:10 - Summary of Gerry’s Weight Journey
11:40 - Losing Weight the Wrong Way & Meal Frequency
15:15 - How Losing Weight and Protein Go Together
22:00 - Freedom of Choice
27:00 - Challenges for Normal People
36:00 - Common Issues During a “diet”
42:50 - Issue of All or Nothing Mentality
51:30 - Falling out of Love Lifting
1:00:10 - Enjoying the Process
1:04:15 - Knowing How to Count Macros Is Just the Beginning
1:09:30 - Closing Thoughts

Episode #148 Effectively Implementing and Leading Athletes BEYOND Programming with Pratik Patel

4/14/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8330892

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes on Pratik Patel. Pratik has spent multiple years with high level college and professional organizations and also has a background in nutrition AND training.

To begin, Pratik talks a little about job security with companies or organizations vs. what you can expect in a private sector type environment. He then discusses his experience with his last job with the New York Football Giants and the type of work it took to effectively communicate with all areas of the sports performance model for an NFL organization.

From there, the conversation turns to areas such as the differences between being a good programmer vs. actually leading and implementing a program. The conversation then finishes with player buy-in, how you can ensure you bring something unique and valuable to the table as an S&C professional and much, much more.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

4:00 - Power of the Internet & Changes from Covid
8:00 - Security of a Job with a Company vs Private Sector
20:40 - Things Other than Money That Are Important
27:00 - Programming Ability Doesn’t Equal Leading a Program
35:00 - Communicating with Other Coaches and People in the Program
39:00 - Getting Credit/Getting Blame
46:00 - Navigating Making Changes to What Athletes Are Used to Doing
52:00 - Getting Players to Buy-in
57:10 - What Do You Do That’s Different?
1:01:10 - Pratik’s Final Thoughts

Episode #147 Optimizing Training in Team Settings with Daniel Guzman

4/7/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/7663807

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

Los Angeles Football Club head of sports performance, Daniel Guzman, stops by on the show to talk his path in the field, influences for young coaches and optimizing the training of athletes in team settings.

How large teams can impact what we do as strength coaches and some things he has learned in his career to effectively train large groups of athletes and connect with them.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management.

Episode Timestamps

4:30 - Daniel’s Beginnings
10:55 - Improving Speed and Debunking Myths
20:09 - Mentors for Daniel
24:30 - Foundational Pieces for Daniel in the Beginning
30:00 - How to Adjust as Things Change
43:15 - Don’t Be Afraid to Learn from the Athlete
48:50 - Balance of Letting Athletes Be Themselves and Making Sure They Succeed
1:02:20 - Training a Lot of Athletes at Once
1:08:00 - Final Thoughts

Episode #146 Everything You Can Do to Get Faster That Doesn't Involve Sprinting with Brendan Thompson and Mike Whiteman

3/31/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/7660288

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

If you want to get faster, get your athletes faster or just enjoy quality sprint training, this episode is for you.

Mike Whiteman and Brendan Thompson are two of the best coaches in sports performance today and they take us on a full journey on everything speed training that doesn’t DIRECTLY relate to sprinting.

We know the importance of sprinting, but what ELSE can we do to improve speed? Acceleration and loaded sprinting, extensive plyometrics and improving ground contacts and the entire spectrum of skill development.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

4:40 - What Is New with Brendan and Mike
9:00 - Working with Large Groups in the Covid-era
10:45 - How Brendan and Mike Started Together
21:28 - Working with Athletes That Are Already Well-versed in Programming
29:20 - Athletes and Sprinting
36:40 - Speedwork at Full Speed
46:30 - Ground Contact & Extensive Plyometrics
59:30 - Genetic Gifts Vs Hard Work
1:05:00 - Acceleration, Bullet Belt, & Improving Athletes First 10 Yards
1:16:30 - Closing Thoughts

Episode #145 Kevin Poppe: Stop Bitching… How to Add Value to What Strength and Conditioning Coaches Provide and Elevate Our Field

3/24/2021

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/8064859

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes Kevin Poppe back on the show for another straight to the point conversation about all things strength and conditioning, particularly how we can actively aim to elevate our role, compensation and perception in the field of athletics.

Episode Timestamps

4:20 - Kevin’s New Normal
8:00 - Finding Ways to Get Guys Motivated
16:45 - Getting Paid More & Adding Value
21:50 - Gerry’s Disagreement with Cody Hughes
27:00 - Increasing Your Role with a Team
33:10 - Difficulties of Gradually Giving Input as a Young Coach
38:35 - Culture of the Industry
48:25 - How to Warrant Your Worth
50:00 - Understanding Sports and Their Movement Needs
1:05:00 - Closing Thoughts