Vanessa Frost-Piedrahita (Pflugerville Fire) joins the pod to break down what it actually looks like to run strength + conditioning inside a fire department.
We talk hiring coaches (and the vibe check that matters), how to coach a room with wildly different training backgrounds, why the job is “high-stakes gen pop,” and how their systems evolved over 10 years — from teaching basic movement patterns to modular “you pick two” programming, quarterly testing, and what’s next with a major shift schedule change.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast Austin had the chance to talk to Morgan McCullough. Morgan is a competitive lifter with x5 American Records and x4 Pan American Records already to his name. Throughout the episode he talks about his path into weightlifting, Clean and Jerking 400 lbs at 13 years old, and overcoming a recent injury. If you love competitive lifting this an episode for you. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we had the pleasure of THEE Tim Riley joining us. Tim is a strength coach out of Austin Texas who has a ton of different projects going on. Throughout the episode we talked about almost all of them including his own podcast, starting up APEX, his role in NFL Combine prep, and lastly about his new gym opening this spring which is shaping up to be absolutely insane. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we had on Jon Sevile otherwise known as beefcake_sensei. He has been on a side quest for over 15 to improve his snatch still continues to hit PR. Throughout the episode we talk about training for long run, ability to shift goals, and when is the best time go off program and “Send It”. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we had on Coach Cameron Dietz. Cameron is the assistant director of sports performance for the University of Cincinnati and works primarily with the baseball and golf teams. Throughout the episode we talk about having data to back up your claims and drive athlete intent, the math equation of stealing bases, why pitchers should still bench press, and how to properly manage high speed volume throughout the season for all players. This was another incredible episode from Cincinnati coaches and as always thanks for listening.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we have on Eugene Bleecker. Eugene is the 108 Performance Founder which is a center specializing in baseball and softball performance & the Director of Player Development. He has worked with athletes of all levels including countless players in the MLB. Throughout the episode they talk about movement efficiency, adaptations versus limitations, his thoughts on athlete self-organization, and having the expertise to know what methods and tools will work for different types of athletes. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we have on Vince Wilkinson. Vince is an Engineer Captain in the US Army and currently in the US Army Warrior Fitness Program competing as a strongman. Throughout the episode we talk about transitioning from a soccer player into competing as a strongman, coaching principles, giving people a reason to train, various strongman competition stories, and growing a social media presence. This was an incredible episode as always thanks for listening.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we have on Antonio Squillante. Antonio is a professor at PLNU and a Strength Coach for the USA Cycling National Sprint Program. Throughout the episode we talk about cultural differences in training, translating the CSCS textbook to Italian by hand, leaving Italy to pursue internships in the United States, the validity of various metrics, and why monitoring fatigue should be used to train harder not easier. This was an incredible episode and as always thanks for listening.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we have on Dr. John C Ditch. John is a professor at Carrol University, Runs a Sports Science Consulting Group, and loves all things biomechanics. Throughout the episode we talk about his insane garage research facility, what devices seem to be worth the money, a ton of various biomechanics relating to jumping, and an aggressive return to play protocol. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we have on Joe Pedulla. Joe is a Strength Coach at the University of Oklahoma and offers private coaching as well. Throughout the episode we talk about building a social through meaningful content, picking stimulus and adaptations over specific exercises, and self-training for the APEX competition happening in the very near future. This was an awesome episode that truly displayed Joes passion and knowledge for performance. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we are stoked to bring on Harry Walker. Describing a guest is usually a simple task but for Harry that goes out the window completely. He is a Strength Coach, Wildland Firefighter, Strongman Athlete, Army National Guard Soldier, and a USMC Veteran. Throughout the episode we talk about concurrently balancing the physical demands of all these responsibilities, competing in various competitions around the world, as well as some light philosophical topics. This was an awesome episode that displays how taking on challenges leads to meaningful work. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
This week on the Jochum Strength Podcast we had the pleasure of speaking to Austin Nice a strength coach out of the University of Cincinnati who I had the pleasure of meeting while I was a grad student at Pitt. Throughout the episode we talk about Austin’s pathway into being a D1 Strength Coach, the relationships and communication with sport coaches, being a good mentee, and the importance of being incredibly good at the basics. This is a great episode for anyone looking at a career in the strength and conditioning field and as always thanks for listening.
Welcome back to the Jochum Strength Podcast. This week we have on Welty and Brian to cover all things hockey. Throughout the episode they dive into experimenting and being guinea pigs for their own programming, on ice vs off ice training correlations, and building an environment that breeds competition. As always thanks for listening and enjoy the episode.
n today’s episode, Austin sits down with strength coach Khrys Speed to dive into Olympic lifting. They explore how to balance skill work, strength work, and athletic qualities like sprinting and jumping, why mobility needs to target specific joints and patterns, and how clear intent can transform technique. You’ll also hear about creative programming ideas, how Olympic lifts transfer to other lifts, and some insight into Khrystopher’s own athletic pursuits. Enjoy the episode.
Today I sit down with Jeffrey “Flexibull” Wolf — a voice that’s shaped how strength, mobility, and authenticity show up in the fitness world.
Jeff takes us through the real evolution of Flexibull: from baseball to CrossFit, Gymnastic Bodies to ATG, building culture, walking away from a gym, burning out on social media, and finding himself again through jiu-jitsu, coaching, and family.
We go deep on:
Why culture beats algorithms
The dangers of the social media hamster wheel
Owning mistakes without losing your integrity
The balance between learning models vs. just doing the work
What training real humans teaches us more than any system
This one’s raw, unfiltered, and full of lessons for coaches, athletes, and anyone trying to keep their soul intact while chasing results.
Keep chopping wood.
0:00 – Kicking off & catching up with Jeff
1:49 – From baseball to CrossFit to Gymnastic Bodies
6:30 – Early ATG days & creating online training culture
11:18 – The birth of “Flexibull”
15:30 – Owning a gym, losing a partner, and hitting burnout
22:00 – Teaching movement in warehouses & touching grass
26:14 – Returning to social media after hiatus
29:40 – Training real people vs. chasing algorithms
39:36 – Depth over reach: why a 200-view video > 1M-view reel
49:56 – Having real people in your life as a compass
54:16 – Jiu-jitsu, identity traps & touching grass for real
59:48 – Owning mistakes & the danger of never changing
1:08:05 – Genius in just “doing the thing”
1:09:44 – Bulking for rugby & injuries along the way
1:11:00 – Pivot into jiu-jitsu & day-to-day training life
1:15:16 – Ecological jiu-jitsu & learning models in strength
1:24:28 – Evolution of the podcast itself & closing thoughts
⏱️ Timestamps
In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Burke – coach, creator, and host of The Strength Chick Podcast. Jessica opens up about her journey leaving the collegiate strength & conditioning world after years of sacrifice, low pay, and a toxic culture that too often disrespected athletes, athletic trainers, and support staff. We dive into the moment she knew she had to walk away, how she built her own brand over nearly a decade, and what it took to finally bet on herself.
Now based in Chicago, Jessica is opening her own private training facility while coaching a wide range of clients — from post-PT athletes to women in their 30s–50s who want a healthier, more balanced approach to training and nutrition. She shares her passion for cutting through fitness industry noise, breaking free from diet culture, and creating educational, sustainable solutions that actually fit people’s lives.
We cover:
Why so many great coaches are leaving college athletics
The realities of low pay, burnout, and scapegoating in S&C
Jessica’s philosophy on food noise, macros vs. micros, and eating without shame
The role of supplements (and which ones are a waste of money)
How she helps general population clients build consistency and confidence
Practical, budget-friendly nutrition advice for athletes and young people
If you’ve ever struggled with the transition out of sports, diet culture, or balancing fitness with real life, this conversation will hit home.
Today we have on Austin Womack. Austin was a strength coach working in professional baseball before becoming a wildland firefighter in 2019. After understanding the demands firsthand he decided to start a coaching business called rugged athlete specifically aimed toward working with wildland firefighters.
In this episode we talk about the challenges wild land fire fighters face, the importance of periodizing “the suck”, how to prepare for working in challenging environments.
You can follow Austin on Instagram at @rugged.athlete
As always, thanks for listening—and enjoy the episode.
Today we have on Dave Hagerty. Dave is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who helps people at any stage of life get stronger and build up their ability to live life.
In this episode we talk about the time horizon of strength training, what training can look like at various stages of life, and the skill of learning new skills.
You can follow Dave on Instagram at @dr.dave.strengthandkindness and see for yourself how it never too late to start training.
As always, thanks for listening—and enjoy the episode.
In today’s episode, we sit down with Sam Wuest to unpack the balance between Eastern and Western coaching philosophies. From Taoist medicine to high-volume training, we explore how discipline, play, and athlete self-organization all play a role in long-term development. Whether you're a seasoned coach or just getting started, this conversation will challenge the way you think about performance, resilience, and athlete growth.