Most S&C podcasts are all the same — Olympic lifts vs. trap bar jumps, fancy terminology, no real talk.
In this brutally honest and hilarious episode, I sit down with Matt Vickery, a 30-year veteran of coaching, to cut through the noise and talk about what actually matters in strength and conditioning.
From the early days of Paul Chek and Charles Poliquin to today’s guru culture, we unpack why coaches burn out, how ego kills learning, and why communication skills matter more than degrees.
If you’re a young coach, this is a reality check. If you’re an older one, you’ll be nodding (and laughing) along.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Both will do neither just fine – setting the tone
01:00 – Why we hate most S&C podcasts
02:00 – Trap bars, Olympic lifts, and why none of it really matters
03:00 – The early days of coaching – plyos, benches, and cracked ribs
05:00 – From Wales to London – how plyometrics sold personal training
08:00 – Paul Chek, Poliquin, and the birth of the fitness guru
12:00 – Acupuncture, shamans, and the placebo effect
15:00 – Fixing yourself vs. outsourcing your recovery
17:00 – Foam rolling, massage guns, sleep – the myth of the 1 percenters
20:00 – Why young coaches need to stop choosing camps
25:00 – The problem with S&C education and university courses
29:00 – Working with athletes vs. “Karens” – who really needs coaching
33:00 – The Chelsea job offer – £9 k a year and a reality check
36:00 – Team-sport chaos – one-hour-a-week programs
40:00 – Louis Simmons, Westside Barbell, and learning the real science
47:00 – Genetic freaks, speed myths, and why most coaches chase noise
50:00 – Closing thoughts – no dashboards, just doing the work
👉 Follow Matt on Instagram → @jumpthrowlift
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