Today, I want to look back on what was a pretty darn successful 2022, and look forward to (what I hope will be) an amazing 2023.
So as we put a bow on last year, I want to share with you my favorite pieces of content, along with a little bit of insight as to why I enjoyed each of them.
The content isn’t in any particular order, so feel free to just pick and choose what you think you’ll enjoy the most!
#1 – Building the Ultimate Weekend Warrior
While this article was really fun to write, it signifies something a bit more:
It’s me coming BACK to writing – something I’ve loved over the years, but gotten away from for various reasons.
Another reason I enjoyed this article so much was because it blended multiple types of media into one post.
Sure the backbone is an article – but it’s supported by videos and podcasts to make it a more immersive learning experience, and (hopefully) help you better understand the ideas I’m trying to convey.
And last but not least, I think it’s really reflective on where my current training is at, so I hope that insight helps the over-30 crowd understand how to stay athletic as they age!
#2 – Joel Jamieson on Metabolic Optimization, Longevity and the Future of Sports Supplements
While there are a tons of people I think highly of in our industry, Joel Jamieson might be at the top of the list.
We all know his work in conditioning has had a massive influence on me as a coach, and I wouldn’t be the program designer I am today without his guidance and insight.
And that’s what made this podcast so fun!
Joel has been on numerous times to talk about conditioning, but we’ve never discussed it through the lens of metabolic optimization and longevity.
I feel like this show highlighted a fundamental shift in Joel’s thought process and messaging, and I can’t say enough good things about the path he’s on.
If you want to understand how conditioning, metabolism, and nutrition all fit together to help you live a longer, healthier life, then give this show a listen TODAY!
#3 – Alex Natera on Athletic Assessments, Isometric Training, and Repeat Power Ability
Speaking of people I highly respect, it wouldn’t be a Top 10 list without having Alex Natera on here.
Alex is someone that I’ve wanted to have on the show for years, but as the saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait.”
And I definitely feel like this show was worth the wait!
When I brought Alex on, I obviously wanted to talk about isometrics because he’s a subject-matter expert there.
But to only talk about ISO’s would be a disservice to his knowledge base.
That’s why we went deeper: Alex and I discussed assessments, ISO’s, and arguably my favorite part of the show, repeat power ability.
If you train athletes and want to have a deeper understanding as to the assessment and program design process, download and listen to this show ASAP!
#4 – Jill Coleman on How to Build a Successful and Rewarding Online Fitness Business
Have you ever sat down to talk to someone and immediately been blown away by their communication skills?
That’s how I felt in this episode with Jill.
In a world where every 20-something is telling you how to crush it with your online business, Jill has truly “been there and done that.”
She’s grinded through the grueling 50-, 60- and 70-hour weeks training clients.
She’s seen the highs and lows of owning your own business.
But most importantly, it was how clearly and succinctly she expressed these things that made this show stand out.
If you’re looking to move out on your own, start a side hustle, or just learn more about what it takes to be successful in the online space, be sure to check out this episode with Jill.
You won’t be disappointed.
#5 – Nick Winkelman on the Language of Coaching
One benefit of running a podcast for 6-7 years now is seeing how people shift and evolve over time.
Take Nick Winkelman, for instance:
He was known for years as a “Combine Training Coach” based on his work with Athletes Performance/EXOS, but his true passion was communication in coaching.
In fact, the first time I had Nick on, I’m pretty sure he asked me NOT to ask him about combine training, because he was so sick of talking about it!
So over the years, it’s been cool to watch Nick’s thought process evolve, and how his messaging has gotten tighter on the topic of clearly communicating with your clients and athletes.
If your goal is to become a more effective communicator, definitely check this episode with Nick out.
#6 – Shanté Cofield on Identifying Your Why and Building a Brand
2022 was the year of the live seminar, and for good reason.
We’d been cooped up for 2 years straight, and everyone was itching to get back out and enjoy live, in-person events again.
My first foray back into the speaking game occurred in February at Nick Lambe’s Raise the Bar Conference.
Sure I was excited to speak, but I think I was more excited to get back in the world and see some of my friends again!
After all, I hadn’t seen Luka H, Tony G, or Molly G in years, so seeing them and catching up on life was at the top of my list.
So as Molly and I were catching up during the event, everyone started buzzing about Shanté’s presentation.
“Shanté was awesome.”
“Shanté was legit!”
So now with a serious case of FOMO, I had to ask Shanté to come on the show and see what all the buzz was about.
Kind of like Jill blew me away with her communication skills, Shanté blew me away with her energy and passion for being yourself and creating great content on social media.
Plus, there are some people you just immediately vibe with and enjoy talking to, and that was definitely the case in this episode.
In a world where everyone is telling you to start your own business or create more content on social media, before you do any of that, listen to this show with Shanté first.
Because if you figure out your “Why,” everything you do from that point forward will be easier.
#7 – 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Body, Business and Life as a Coach
I don’t love putting a solo podcast on this list, but I think this one definitely earned its place.
Too often as coaches, we put the other people in our lives first.
Family, friends, or even our clients and athletes – it’s not uncommon for all these people to have their needs taken care of BEFORE we do things for ourselves.
And while I’m all for giving as much of my energy away as possible, I also realize you have to take care of yourself if you want to take care of others.
So this episode is all about taking care of YOU.
Whether it’s training, nutrition, recovery or mindset, if you want to make 2023 your best year ever, then please push this episode to the top of your list and check it out ASAP!
#8 – Staggered, Split, Parallel – Which Stance is Best?
One of the best parts about writing is how it forces you to get clear on a topic.
Take this article, for instance:
I know why I would prescribe a specific stance in training.
But just because something makes sense in my head doesn’t mean I can clearly convey that to YOU as a fellow coach, trainer or athlete!
So in this article, I do my best to outline the various stances you have available to you in the gym, as well as why you might choose one over the other.
This article is definitely more on the technical side, so grab a cup of coffee and a notepad to jot down some notes along the way.
BUT these are really good for helping me tweak and refine my own thought process, so I hope you find value in them!
#9 – Drake Berberet: The Beginners Guide to Assessing and Training with Force Plates
When someone asks me what my goals are for the year, they’re likely going to get the same answer:
World Domination.
But beyond that, my secondary goal for 2023 is to dive in and understand the technical side of performance assessments.
When I got my Masters Degree in 2002, it felt like I had to pick between one of two paths:
- Slave away in a research lab, collecting data and publishing research, OR
- Getting in the gym and getting after it with athletes.
There really was no in-between at that point in time.
20 years ago if you wanted to use any sort of force plate in your programs, you were looking at a $50k investment – which is well beyond what most small facilities can afford.
So I chose coaching, and I’ve never looked back.
But when I met with Drake Berberet this past summer and saw what you can do with Hawkin Dynamics force plates, I knew I had to step my game up ten-fold.
In this episode, Drake and I do our best to explain what force plates are and how you can use them to make more informed programming decisions.
Force plates may not be the be-all, end-all with regards to our assessment process, but any objective measurement tool that allows me to better understand how my athletes move is something I want to learn more about.
Even if you have zero desire to invest in force plates, I think it’s hugely beneficial to educate yourself on what tools are out there, and how they’re being used at the highest levels of sport.
#10 – Exercise Progression Across Blocks
Last but not least, while this video is pretty short, I think the principles I outline are quite valuable.
We’re long past the days of writing annual programs, or planning out the exact exercises we’re going to use for the next 4-6 months.
BUT that doesn’t mean we’re just randomly picking exercises for our clients to use on a month-to-month basis, either!
In this video, I give you some insights as to how I think about exercise progression across blocks, especially when I’m just starting with a new client or athlete.
Having a general thought process as to where you want people to be is incredibly valuable, and should help speed up the process on subsequent programs as well.
Summary
So there you have it: My Top 10 Pieces of Content from 2022.
Looking back I feel like it was a pretty darn good year, even if I did lean on the podcast a bit too much with regards to my content 😉
Going forward, I think you’ll see a better blend of articles, videos, and podcasts to help you take your game to the next level.
Thanks so much for your support and let’s make 2023 out best year ever!
All the best,
MR