Blog Posts - CHALLENGER STRENGTH

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 #31 Building a Business and Coaching in the Private Sector with Michael Richards

7/31/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1484284-episode-31-building-a-business-and-coaching-in-the-private-sector-with-michael-richards

In this episode, Gerry has a chance to talk to Michael Richards, a strength/baseball coach and entrepreneur who has worked in the private sector for almost twenty years and now owns and operates a booming facility and business in Arkansas.

From the jump the two talk about the business side of things and what it takes to get a business off the ground in the world of strength and conditioning and sports performance. Michael explains how he got his foot in the door as a young strength coach in the late 1990's and goes on to give a breakdown of the changing culture of marketing and how coaches and trainers had to market their businesses/programs before the days of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

From there, the conversation turns to the keys to running the operations of a facility and some learning lessons Michael has experienced while trying to blend the life of a strength coach and business man.

The strength training and sports performance portion of the conversation discusses the importance of strength training for all athletes and the idea that things do not change much from sport to sport in strength training. Above all else athletes should get strong and fast and then finish off their work with whatever specifics their sport demands of them.

From business, owning a private facility or training athletes and what it takes to get strong this episode has it all for coaches, aspiring business owners and athletes alike!

Episode #30 Q&A: When to Use VBT, Thoughts on CrossFit, and Sprinting Quick Fixes

7/23/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1450378-episode-30-q-a-when-to-use-vbt-thoughts-on-crossfit-and-sprinting-quick-fixes

In this episode Gerry opens the floor for full question and answer interactions with some questions posed to him from his followers (various coaches and athletes amongst others).

The conversation moves right into some important questions covering topics such as quick fixes for improving your sprint time, using CrossFit for young athletes, advice on "making it," as a young strength coach/entrepreneur, velocity based training (when to use it and how to do so without expensive technology), the importance of certifications for a coach and where to find great resources for strength and baseball training.

Gerry gives practical and useful information on the aforementioned topics that any listener can use to become a better coach or athlete and improve their business, training or sports career!

Episode #29 Building Foundations for Elite Athletes and Running a Training Business with Erica Suter

7/16/2019

Link:
www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1419433-episode-29-building-foundations-for-elite-athletes-and-running-a-training-business-with-erica-suter

In this episode, Gerry starts out with a long, yet productive rant about his intention to further quality training exposure on social media. He then gives another breakdown on why unstable surface training may not be the best means to use to prepare athletes for their sports.

He then announces the launch of the "War for Quality Strength Training," and finishes his rant with some social media talk regarding followers, training pro athletes and how neither dictates the quality of a trainer/training program.

From there, Erica Suter joins the show. Erica enjoyed a soccer career at Johns Hopkins university as well as a playing and coaching career in Brazil after college. From there, she pursued her passion for strength and skill training athletes (specifically soccer players), and began her own business.

The conversation covers the essentials for building young AND elite athletes, as well as some things you definitely want to avoid. Then, Erica gives her input on the importance of culture when it comes to training athletes and how she has built a great culture during her 8 years as a coach/business owner. A discussion on business, social media and what it takes to have a successful/engaged social media following closes out the conversation. A must listen for all coaches and athletes!

Episode #28 All Things Recruiting with Brian Scanlon

7/10/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1392676-episode-28-all-things-recruiting-with-brian-scanlon

In this episode Gerry talks to recruiting specialist Brian Scanlon. In addition to a playing career at Babson College, Brian also spent five years as an assistant coach and out of state recruiter for Babson, bringing dozens of players from across the country to the Division III powerhouse. Upon completing his MBA at Babson, Brian left the college coaching ranks and started his own recruiting services business, The Recruiting Coaches. Now, Brian and his colleagues help players and families alike through the recruiting process and into the colleges that fit the best.

This conversation covers Brian's experience as a college coach and recruiter, his immediate transition from player to coach and what he learned during his time as a college recruiter that can help many coaches, players and parents. Topics such as: recruiting and getting recruited to the right levels/fits, the importance of character and grades and when it may be time to reevaluate perceived skill level and fit.

From there, Brian and Gerry discuss the current showcase model, the importance of a good first impression when it comes to exposure and how you can avoid wasting money when it comes to recruiting. All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management.

Episode #27 Former MLB Reliever Eric O'Flaherty

7/3/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1363510-episode-27-former-mlb-reliever-eric-o-flaherty

In this episode Gerry has the chance to talk to former big league relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty. Eric spent almost a decade in the big leagues with the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics and New York Mets, posting an incredible 0.98 ERA in 80 innings pitched as the set-up man for the Braves in 2011.

The two get right into an incredibly funny and interesting story, reliving the infamous night that Eric had a pre-game bench press competition with Braves catcher Brian McCann. Chaos (and a nasty cutter) ensued later that night when Eric had to actually pitch unexpectedly.

Then, hear all about pitching, nutrition and strength training from a former big league pitcher and see what he had success with and what he recommends for any coaches and athletes out there who are currently on the journey themselves. All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management.

Episode #26 How Strength and Speed Training Can Improve Your Conditioning

6/30/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1347760-episode-26-how-strength-and-speed-training-can-improve-your-conditioning

The 26th installment of Muscles and Management takes a look at some of the benefits strength and speed training can provide in terms of improving aerobic capacity and overall conditioning.

Gerry gives a breakdown of maximum and operational output and how increasing your maximum output can create a phenomenon where your operational (sub-maximal) output will not be as taxing on your body and overall energy systems.

A breakdown of energy systems follows, and Gerry provides examples of sport specific situations where improved maximum output (strength, sprinting speed etc.) can have a marked impact on an athlete's conditioning.

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

Episode #25 Hitting and Building a Coaching Career with Trey Hannam

6/23/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1318450-episode-25-hitting-and-building-a-coaching-career-with-trey-hannam

In this episode Gerry talks to Trey Hannam, a budding presence in the community of hitting and the online baseball community.

Both Gerry and Trey get to talking about their respective similarities as young coaches in the worlds of strength training and hitting in terms of how they both started their careers and built a presence online.

Then, Trey gives a breakdown on his work with hitters and some overall pointers for athletes in not only their hitting, but their strength and speed training as well. Additionally, the conversation then tackles strategies for working in the private sector and what you can do as a player or coach to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to training and improving your craft.

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

Episode #24 Everything You Need to Know About Speed

6/19/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1302340-episode-24-everything-you-need-to-know-about-speed

In this episode Gerry tackles a topic every athlete and coach can benefit from. Speed!

We have all heard the expression "quick feet," utilized when it comes to sprinting and getting faster, but is it correct to say speed comes from quick feet? Gerry explains how the ankles, knees, hips, hamstrings and the overall series of leg muscles come together in order to rapidly and forcefully move the feet and drive speed.

Then, after debunking the quick feet debate, he gets to explaining how a beautiful combination of force/strength and speed/elasticity of the muscles come together to make a fast athlete and how you can improve upon both to become faster yourself!

All things speed and much more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode #23 Velocity Based Training With Pat Robles

6/6/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1245815-episode-23-velocity-based-training-with-pat-robles

This episode takes a look at a training method that has become popular in development of athletes, velocity based training, and how you can properly utilize and implement it to both gauge progress and build specific areas in an athlete.

Gerry gives a breakdown of what goes into velocity based training and gives an overall look at the force velocity curve as it pertains to strength and speed characteristics in athletes.

From there, Pat Robles joins the show to discuss the success he's had implementing velocity based training and how he uses it to track readiness and preparation of his athletes throughout the rigors of training. Additionally, Pat discusses how you can you use velocity based training to determine power output of athletes and whether or not they need more velocity work (moving lighter loads faster) or more force work (moving heavier loads with less speed).

Episode #22 Hitting, Lifting and Life Lessons With Les Nozzle

5/31/2019

Link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/1220546-episode-22-hitting-lifting-and-life-lessons-with-les-nozzle

Les Nozzle is a former power lifter and current veteran strength and hitting coach who works with numerous athletes out of Omaha Nebraska.

This interview gives an authentic, in-depth view at what it takes to physically prepare athletes who have a desire to get to the next level.

Les and Gerry discuss everything from nutrition, strength training protocol, why it is ok to lift heavy and how strength training can have a great positive impact on all athletes, especially baseball players.

From there, the conversation takes a turn towards business and Les and Gerry discuss some of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and what some people are missing when they attempt to "make it."

No punches held, no opinions left on the table and a generally great, genuine conversation on hitting, lifting and life/business as a whole.