Advertise on podcast: Performance Talk

An athlete can be pain-free, cleared by the doctor, and finished with rehab—but are they actually ready to compete? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Steve Miller, UK physiotherapist and sports performance educator, to tackle one of the biggest challenges in sports: closing the gap between rehabilitation and true game readiness. They discuss what athletes really need before returning to competition—from acceleration, deceleration, cutting, movement quality, and sport-specific skills to the conditioning required to repeatedly perform those movements under fatigue. Because returning to sport isn't the same as being ready for sport. Listen in for a powerful conversation about preparing athletes to not just get back on the field—but perform when it matters.

What happens after an athlete is medically cleared but still isn’t truly ready to perform? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Dr. Alicia Ponce to unpack one of the most overlooked parts of athletic recovery: the transition from physical therapy to performance. They discuss the gap between rehabilitation and return-to-play, why being “cleared” doesn’t always mean being ready, and how physical therapists, performance coaches, strength coaches, athletic trainers, and sport coaches can work together to better prepare athletes for the real demands of competition. From cutting and changing direction to acceleration, deceleration, conditioning, and sport-specific demands, this conversation emphasizes one key principle: the athlete should be at the center of the team. 🎙️ Tune in for an insightful conversation about collaboration, communication, and helping athletes make a stronger, safer transition from rehab back to performance. #PerformanceTalk #SportsPerformance #PhysicalTherapy #SportsRehab #ReturnToPlay #StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteDevelopment

James Allenby is an Australian former professional cricketer who most recently played for Somerset, where he played as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler. Upon retirement from active competition, Jim works with Players Choice Australia, an independently owned and operated sports coaching company providing expert training and skills development to players of all ages and abilities. @PlayersChoiceAU. instagram : @jimallenby82

What does it really take to build a high-performing athlete—and a great coach? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Coach Miller for a wide-ranging conversation on Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, strength and conditioning, coaching philosophy, and the future of youth athletic development. Coach Miller shares why relationships are the foundation of effective coaching, why athletes need patience and a strong physical and mental foundation, and why the goal should always be development—not just winning today. They also dive into the importance of educating young athletes, recognizing strength and conditioning as a profession, creating safer school weight rooms, and learning from the history of the industry. The biggest takeaway? Great coaching isn't about yelling louder—it's about helping people become the best version of themselves.🎙️ Tune in to Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon for an honest conversation about coaching, performance, leadership, and developing athletes for the long run. #PerformanceTalk #DrEwellGordon #StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteDevelopment #Coaching #OlympicWeightlifting #SportsPerformance #YouthAthletics

What does it really take to perform at the highest level—and what happens when the drive to be great starts taking a toll? On this episode of Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon, former professional cricketer Jim Allenby shares lessons from a 15-year playing career, the evolution of sports science and performance preparation, and the importance of knowing when to push harder—and when it’s time to step back. From physical conditioning and recovery to mental preparation, career longevity, identity, and the difficult transition out of professional sport, this conversation offers powerful insights for athletes, coaches, and anyone striving for high performance. 🎙️ Tune in and discover what it really takes to stay at the top—and finish well. #PerformanceTalk #HighPerformance #SportsPerformance #AthleteMindset #SportsPsychology #StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteDevelopment #Performance

On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with sports psychologist Dr. Haley Perlis for a powerful conversation about the mental side of athletic performance. They explore how athletes can build confidence when entering new environments, navigate setbacks and rehabilitation, distinguish useful feedback from mental “noise,” and learn to perform even when they don’t feel ready. From embracing progress over perfection to giving your best effort with whatever you have that day, this episode offers practical insights for athletes, coaches, parents, and performance professionals looking to develop greater mental toughness and unlock their potential. 🎙️ Listen now and discover why you don’t have to feel ready to be ready.

What does it take to prepare elite Paralympic athletes to perform at the highest level? On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Morgan Blatnik, strength and conditioning coach at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Morgan shares his experience working with the U.S. Men's and Women's National Goalball Teams, coaching visually impaired athletes, and adapting training without compromising intensity or performance. The conversation also explores the value of vision training, clear communication between coaches and athletes, building trust in the weight room, and the collaborative approach that helps Olympic and Paralympic athletes stay healthy and compete at their best. Whether you're a strength coach, athletic trainer, therapist, or sports professional, this episode offers practical insights into simplifying coaching, understanding athlete feedback, and creating a performance environment where everyone works together toward one goal: helping athletes reach their full potential. Listen now to Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon.

From breaking his arm during PT school to becoming a board-certified specialist working with elite athletes, Brent Rachall's journey is a masterclass in resilience, humility, and lifelong learning. In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon and Brent Rachall explore what separates good clinicians from great ones, why mentorship matters, how rehabilitation is about people—not just protocols—and why true performance comes from collaboration between therapists, coaches, athletic trainers, and physicians. Whether you're a clinician, coach, athlete, or parent, this conversation offers valuable insights into building trust, embracing growth, and helping athletes return stronger than before. Listen now and discover why the best rehabilitation starts with understanding the person—not just the injury.

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with veteran trainer and gym designer John Damon for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to create effective training environments and develop athletes. With decades of experience working with elite athletes, John shares his philosophy on gym design, individualized training, foundational movement, exercise selection, and the importance of knowing what you actually know. From designing a facility around its mission to choosing the right exercises for an athlete's sport, position, body type, and goals, this conversation challenges common training assumptions and emphasizes a simple principle: good performance starts with good information. 🔑 Key Takeaways Design the facility around the mission: A performance facility should reflect the athletes and training goals it is built to serve—not simply be a room filled with equipment. Individualize the training: Training should account for an athlete's sport, position, physical makeup, injury history, and specific performance demands. Master the fundamentals: Foundational movement and appropriate exercise selection matter more than chasing trendy training methods. Use equipment with purpose: Tools like the hex bar can provide tremendous versatility when they're selected and applied appropriately. Collaboration makes athletes better: Strength coaches, physical therapists, trainers, and other professionals can create better outcomes when they communicate and work together. Stay curious: Great professionals avoid becoming dogmatic. Being willing to question your assumptions and update your knowledge is essential to long-term success. Don't confuse a test with performance: A single exercise or benchmark—such as the bench press—doesn't define an athlete's overall ability or potential. Build for the people you actually serve: From gym location and convenience to equipment and layout, successful facilities require an understanding of their clientele.

We’re bringing back a powerful conversation in this Encore Episode of Performance Talk 🎙️ Dr. Ewell Gordon reconnects with Joe Drake—fitness educator and co-founder of a training and performance company based in Boca Raton, Florida—for an in-depth discussion on how exercise science has evolved and where it’s headed. Together, they explore why building a strong foundation is critical for athletic success and share practical perspectives on developing young athletes the right way. From long-term athlete development to smart, sustainable training principles, this episode offers timeless insights for coaches, practitioners, and performance-minded athletes alike. 🔔 Don’t miss this encore conversation packed with real-world performance wisdom.

In this episode of The Performance Task, we sit down with JP Echeverria, Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Boston Red Sox, for a deep, honest conversation about what it really means to develop athletes. JP reflects on his first 10 years in the profession—finding his coaching identity, staying in his lane, and shifting from “rah-rah coaching” to an athlete-centered, habit-driven approach. We dive into topics like training age, auto-regulation, stress management, in-season lifting, sports science vs. feel, and why availability is the ultimate performance metric. This is a must-listen for coaches navigating the early years of the profession—or anyone who believes development is about more than numbers on a spreadsheet. 🎧 Tune in for real talk on growth, resilience, and coaching that actually transfers.

In this powerful and perspective-shifting episode of Performance Talk, host Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Dr. Mike Israetel—renowned sports scientist, professor, co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, and competitive athlete. From high school wrestling roots to academic mastery in performance science, Mike shares his journey through education, self-discovery, and relentless pursuit of truth in training. Gain insider insights on the evolution of strength and conditioning, the misconceptions of overtraining, and why recovery is the unsung hero of peak performance. The conversation dives into the modern athlete’s toolkit—from high school weight rooms to AI-powered programming—and challenges long-held myths in sport and fitness culture.

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with John Flagg, founder of Rebuild Stronger, to discuss the differences between powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and strongman training. John shares his journey from athletic training to coaching elite strength athletes and how he helps them recover from injuries while maximizing performance. Tune in for expert insights on training, injury prevention, and the mindset needed to excel in strength sports!

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Dan Pope, a physical therapist and strength coach, to discuss the intersection of strength training and rehab. Dan shares his journey from fitness enthusiast to PT, the misconceptions about strength training in rehabilitation, and how the industry is evolving.

Episode Overview Join host Dr. Ewell Gordon on this episode of Performance Talk as he welcomes guest, Dr. Steve Nightingale, a sports scientist and performance coach with the NHL's New Jersey Devils. Key Topics Discussed: Steve’s Journey: From being a passionate but not-so-great ice hockey player in England to becoming a performance coach for various international teams. Breaking into Sports Science: The unexpected path from teaching to discovering strength and conditioning, leading to roles across different countries including China and Russia. Adapting in Professional Environments: Insights on how Stephen navigated through diverse coaching styles and team dynamics across global leagues. Highlights: Challenges in Pro Sports: Debunking myths about the ease of working at high levels; discussing the relentless work needed both by athletes and support staff. Importance of Flexibility: How adapting plans according to real-time situations is crucial—illustrated by experiences like delayed flights affecting practice schedules. Data Utilization: Exploring how less can be more when it comes to data usage; focusing on meaningful metrics that align with team goals. Insightful Quotes: "The more I work in pro sport as a sports scientist, the less data I use." - Dr. Steve Nightingale "Write your plans in pencil, not pen." - A reminder about flexibility from Dr. Steve Takeaways for Professionals: Understand what coaches want before implementing new methodologies or technologies. Develop skills beyond theoretical knowledge—real-world application often deviates from textbook models.