The Athletes Podcast

A pro motocross career can end in seconds, but the will to compete is harder to break. Brock Leitner takes us back to June 12, 2022, when a crash left him paralyzed at T6, and walks us through the exact moment he realized his legs were gone from the equation. What hits hardest is how clearly he remembers it and how quickly his mind starts searching for a way forward. 

From there, we follow his path into adaptive golf, w...

We sit down with Dr. Dan Braun to talk about training that actually moves the needle, from breaking plateaus with simple strength work to using isometrics with a real plan. We also dig into return-to-sport decisions, why rehab often stops at pain relief, and how sleep, breathing, and nutrition quietly decide your outcomes. 
• simplifying training with push-ups pull-ups and dips as repeatable anchors 
• using single-...

We sit down with Olympic goalie Rei Halloran right after she represents Team Japan and talk through what the Games actually feel like from inside the village. We dig into the work, mindset shifts, and support system that carry her from being overlooked in Division III to believing she belongs on the biggest stage. 

• Olympic Village reality, beds, food, and meeting athletes across sports 
• Handling goalie press...

We play a nine-hole simulator round with Heidi Cannon while tracing how a bikini champion turns contest discipline into real gains in golf. Along the way, we get honest about fittings, long drive pressure, social media distortion, and the slow fundamentals that beat every shortcut.
• how Heidi gets into golf and why it sticks as a lifelong sport
• meeting the right people on the course and landing in the golf industry
• wh...

We sit down with Mac Boucher to unpack how a self-taught swing, bold shot shapes, and a course-first creative style turned golf into a joyful career built on intention and integrity. Mac shares strategies for pressure, boundaries with haters, and advice for athletes who want longevity.

• curving the ball to control the miss
• building a brand that prioritizes long-term partners
• balancing pressure, performance, and pu...

Join David Stark & Cole Hergott, the S&C coach at Trinity Western University. We explore how better beats more, why consistent full-body training outperforms grind culture, and how a simple, repeatable Sparta Score keeps hundreds of athletes focused on the right improvements. Cole shares actionable ways to program, recover, and earn buy-in without fancy gear.

• Creatine’s physical and cognitive benefits across ...

 Join us on episode #277 featuring Dr. Brandon Pentheny as we unpack how to turn messy sports data into clear coaching decisions, why outliers can’t be your standard, and how to separate capacity from utilization so training actually transfers. We also dig into lifting before practice, tendon loading, youth overuse, and building buy-in with simple, consistent methods.

• bridging biomechanics, neuromuscular perform...

Episode #276 features Chong Xie, Founder @hyperarchfascia_training and Therapy ® (HFT). Chong is a Clinical Fascia Researcher, Performance Coach for the Pros in MLS, NFL, and NBA. We challenge muscle-first thinking and show how fascia, the body’s tension network, drives elastic power, foot-to-glutes connection, and resilient performance. Practical drills, footwear context, nutrition timing, and new research back up big gains ...

Join David Stark & Mike Pickles as we share how smart, simple training builds confidence and keeps athletes healthy while cutting through the noise of gimmicks and hype. Mike reflects on lessons from coaching hundreds of kids and why life skills matter more than making the pros.

• origins in strength and conditioning and early mentors
• confidence as the biggest gain from youth training
• injury prevention as the f...

We talk with BJJ athlete and coach Sean Spence about building real confidence under pressure, smarter training without burnout, and why “framing” chaos works on and off the mat. We also dig into cross-training, youth development, and how longevity can live with peak performance.

• Sean’s path from fitness to Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Why humility beats ego for faster skill gain
• Framing pressure to stay ...

We explore how elite performance is built on consistency, smart prioritization, and a network that protects long-term availability. Stories from NHL rooms, Kelowna’s rise as a training hub, and a candid look at captaincy, data, and mental health show what actually moves the needle.

• playing the long game with career choices and boundaries
• why availability beats bigger, faster, stronger
• data that validates co...

Clark Hardman, CEO of Thread Performance, joins us to rethink how young athletes fuel growth, focus, and safe strength. We dig into trust, bioavailability, multi-sport benefits, and why snack bars and kids’ menus need a hard reset.

• mission to build youth-specific supplements
• why processed food hurts focus and recovery
• trust gap in teen supplements and how to fix it
• bioavailability and iron deficiency i...

A torn ACL sparks a pivot to Prague, an elite training internship, and a national reality challenge that reshapes how we coach and compete. We launch the Two‑Minute Warning, debate sports’ hottest questions, and map the real rise of women’s sports with on-the-ground proof.

• ACL tear as catalyst for change
• Prague study abroad and work grind
• Gary Roberts internship lessons in sport science
• Canada&rs...

Sandra Abstreiter shares how film study, better fueling, and smarter gear choices helped her rise to Germany’s starting job and a PWHL roster. We swap stories from the PWHL takeover tour, dig into mindset for starters and backups, and unpack how small gains stack into big jumps.

• jumping from skater to goalie at 16 and building skills fast through deliberate video study
• why comfort-driven gear choices accelerate ...

We sit down with ultra runner Dave Proctor to unpack how he ran across Canada, what attention and meditation did for his performance, and why the finish line mattered less than the steps that got him there. The talk moves from ego and validation to stillness, doubt, and the craft of stacking habits.

• Canadian pride and sport as pure attention
• Doing vs being and running across Canada
• Outrunning ego and the Second M...

Cal Dorohoy, founder of Fairway Co and director of Innovation for VaynerSports, joins Dave to discuss the ambitious Fairway Long Drive Tour across Canada and the intersection of athletics and entrepreneurship.

• Cal created Fairway Lager after identifying the untapped opportunity to own the "social side of golf"
• The beer contains a protease enzyme cutting 90% of gluten, making it less filling for extended days on the co...

Luke Way, founder of Isocapnic Technologies, reveals how respiratory limitations affect athletic performance and how proper breathing training can unlock significant performance gains.

• Approximately 70% of athletes are functionally limited by their respiratory systems, meaning they physically cannot breathe enough air to perform at their true potential
• VO2 max testing provides valuable insights beyond just a number, s...

Shea Emry shares his remarkable journey from being a two-time Grey Cup champion in the CFL to competing in World Long Drive Championships, hitting golf balls over 400 yards with a specialized 48-inch driver. His story demonstrates how elite athletes can successfully transition between sports, applying lessons from one competitive arena to another.

• Former CFL linebacker who retired in 2015 and discovered long drive golf in ...

Maddie Warren joins us for a brutal leg workout and shares her journey from teenage undereating to powerlifting to becoming a bodybuilder who travels the world. She opens up about finding balance, building confidence, and pursuing personal growth on her own terms.

• Training with heavy hip thrusts (3 plates) and high reps for glute development
• Using cooling implements called "narwhals" to maximize workout capacity
• ...