Strength Changes Everything

Strength Changes Everything

The Exercise Coach presents: The Strength Changes Everything Podcast. Learn from Exercise Coach Co-Founder Brian Cygan, Franchisee Amy Hudson, and Dr. James Fisher, Chief Science Officer of The Exercise Coach about how to enjoy a strong, healthy lifestyle. The Exercise Coach’s unique two 20-minute workouts a week is how thousands across the United States get and stay in great shape. This podcast gives you the facts, from the experts, in easy-to-understand lessons so you can take control of your life.

Episodes

August 5, 2025 43 mins

Is bigger always better when it comes to strength training? In this episode, Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher break down the science of muscle growth, revealing why increased size doesn’t always equal increased strength.

From neural adaptations to muscle fiber recruitment, they explore what’s really happening inside your body when you train – and why understanding it can transform the way you approach your workouts.

  • Amy Hudson ...
Mark as Played

Think core training is all about crunches and six-packs? What if the real key to a strong, pain-free core is the muscles you can’t see?

Hosts Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher dive deep into the science of core strength, bust common myths, and reveal how personal training can help you target the low back and pelvic muscles that truly support your spine, posture, and overall function.

  • Today’s episode features hosts Amy Hudson and...
Mark as Played

When it comes to your health and to your strength training, more specifically…Do you rely on social media trends or real science for your exercise routine? And how do you know if your workouts are actually safe and effective?

Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher break down what “evidence-based strength training” really means, exposing common myths and highlighting why scientific research – and not old paradigms – should drive your fitne...

Mark as Played

Did you know that what’s on your plate can help you while you’re at the gym?

Join hosts Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher as they dive into the vital role of protein in muscle health and strength training.

What’s the ideal protein intake you should aim for every day? And where can you get proteins from, in the first place? Whether you’re just starting out or enhancing your regimen, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to op...

Mark as Played

Big Box Gyms: Yay or Nay?

And how do they compare to working out with a personal trainer? Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher look at big box gyms and the benefits of working with a personal trainer.

You’ll hear about everything from motivation and habit-building to fitness results, and will walk away with clarity on which option to go for to make the most out of your time and exercising efforts.

  • Dr. James Fisher kicks things off ...
Mark as Played

What does aerobic fitness really mean — and how can personal training help you improve it?? Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher break down VO₂ max, heart rate, and the science behind combining strength training with interval workouts.

From boosting cardiovascular health to reducing fatigue and disease risk, they explain how targeted personal training can transform your conditioning and overall well-being.

  • Amy Hudson and Dr. James ...
Mark as Played

What’s the secret to an effective workout? More reps? More sweat? More weights? In this episode, Dr. James Fisher and Amy Hudson break down the science behind strength training, revealing why muscle fatigue, not time or reps, is the real key to results.

From type-2 muscle fiber recruitment to recovery strategies, what you’ll hear will help you rethink how you train and why less might actually be more.

  • Dr. Fisher and Amy addres...
Mark as Played

Can just 20 minutes with a personal trainer really make a difference? In this episode, Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher explain why effort – not time – is the true driver of fitness results. From the science of stimulus to the dangers of overtraining, they reveal how shorter, smarter workouts can transform your body and redefine your approach to exercising.

  • Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher discuss whether the amount of time you ...
Mark as Played

Are your daily steps really telling you how fit you are? Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher unpack the limitations of step tracking and explain why effort, not volume, is the true driver of fitness. From sedentary habits to the power of strength training, they reveal what actually moves the needle when it comes to improving your health and longevity.

  • In today’s episode, Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher look at whether there’s a me...
Mark as Played

Think your heart rate tells the whole story of your workout? Think again. In this episode, Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher unpack the myths around heart rate tracking, explaining why it's not the best measure of workout effectiveness — and what you should focus on instead. From hunger hormones to interval training tips, you'll walk away with a smarter approach to training that actually supports your fitness goals.

  • Amy Hudson a...
Mark as Played

Is sweating synonymous with a good workout session? Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher address why people sweat and whether sweat is a reflection of the intensity of your workout. You’ll hear about the different contributing factors that lead you to sweat, something dogs and humans have in common when it comes to losing heat, and why the lack of sweat may end up turning working out into less of a big deal. Get ready for the sweaty tru...

Mark as Played

Everything you need to know about muscle soreness. Hosts Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher talk about why soreness is NOT indicative of the quality of a workout, what causes – and what doesn’t cause – it, the difference between muscle soreness and joint pain, and what you can do to reduce that soreness. If you’re someone who exercises on a regular basis, you can’t miss this one!

  • Today’s episode, which is a part of a series that ...
Mark as Played

“What happens if I stop strength training?” That’s the audience question hosts Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher address in this new episode of Strength Changes Everything.

Join them to hear about the benefits and negative consequences of doing and stopping strength training, as well as a 2017 study that looked at how a group of people were affected by halting their 6-month strength training.

You’ll walk away with a better understand...

Mark as Played

Join hosts Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher for a quiz-style episode to see whether you’re smarter than the average gym goer! 14 questions based on recently-published scientific research will show you how much you know when it comes to your “gym science.”

Tune in to learn more about the recommended protein intake per meal, carbohydrate, the animal- vs plant-based discussion, and the effectiveness of low- and high-load training.

Plus...

Mark as Played

Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher discuss the critical role of strength training before and after surgery—and why it can make all the difference in your recovery.

They cover how pre-surgery strength sets the stage for success, what to do (and what not to do) after an injury, and how training one side of your body can benefit the other. Tune in to learn why rest isn’t always the best advice, how to train smart during recovery, and wha...

Mark as Played

Hosts Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher discuss all things stretching and muscle soreness with Dr. Dave Behm, author of The Science and Physiology of Flexibility and Stretching.

They cover the most common affliction, when it makes sense to stretch, and for how long you should stretch.

You’ll also hear expert insights on the correlation between stretching and strength, the different stretching approaches, and how they impact your spor...

Mark as Played

Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher discuss the importance of range of motion in strength training and how it impacts performance, injury prevention, and long-term joint health. They cover why strength varies throughout a movement, the dangers of locking out your joints, and the myths about extreme ranges of motion. Tune in to hear expert insights on training smarter, maximizing muscle engagement, and protecting your body for the long ...

Mark as Played

Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher explore the difference between type one and type two muscle fibers—why they matter, how they function, and how to train them effectively. They discuss why neglecting type two fibers can lead to rapid muscle loss and how simple strength exercises can make a huge difference in keeping you strong, mobile, and functional for life.

Join us to hear ways a sedentary lifestyle weakens type two muscle fibers ...

Mark as Played

Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher dive deep into the science of supervised workouts, sharing research on the benefits of guided workouts. They explore the key differences between supervised and unsupervised training, why many people struggle to train effectively on their own, and how coaching impacts technique, effort, safety, and motivation.

Tune in to hear why men and women respond differently to coaching, ways technology is changi...

Mark as Played

Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher tackle one of the biggest frustrations in fitness—plateaus. They break down why plateaus happen, the role of recovery, nutrition, and mindset, and how to adjust your training to keep moving forward. Tune in to hear why slow progress is better than doing nothing at all, the importance of balancing effort with rest, and practical strategies to help you train smarter and stay consistent even if you’re n...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.