Advertise on podcast: Performance Talk

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.

What does the next era of sports psychology look like? In this special roundtable, Dr. Hillary Cauthen, Dr. Brent Hogarth, and Dr. Eddie O’Connor join Performance Talk to break down where the profession is headed—covering trust-building with coaches and athletes, the rise of the CMPC, and why service, self-awareness, and collaboration are redefining what it means to perform at the highest level.

What happens when elite performance meets real-life resilience? Dr. Amy Athey brings 25+ years of experience—from NCAA programs to Navy SEALs—to Performance Talk with insights on building trust, sustaining peak performance, and leading through service. 🎧

Performance is evolving—and Craig Lane is helping shape the next generation. In this return visit to Performance Talk, Craig unpacks the growing role of sports science, why coaching still matters most, and how confidence, context, and collaboration drive athlete success.

Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Mauricio Elizondo, Director of Sports Medicine at Austin FC to this episode of Performance Talk. With nearly two decades of experience spanning minor league baseball, professional tennis, and now Major League Soccer, Mauricio shares insights into building comprehensive high-performance teams. The conversation explores the evolving relationship between physical therapists and athletic trainers, the importance of data-driven decision making, and how communication bridges medical care with performance training. Mauricio discusses Austin FC's expanded team structure, including their new "return to play" specialist position, and offers valuable advice for young professionals entering the sports medicine field.

From soldier to sports psych pro, Dr. Sean Green joins Performance Talk to unpack the powerful intersection of mental strength and physical readiness. In this deep-dive with Ewell Gordon, they explore athlete identity, injury recovery, neuroscience, and why performance is more than just what happens on the field.

Can a sleep mask actually boost performance? In this eye-opening episode of Performance Talk, Ewell Gordon sits down with Lori Oliver and Jill MacRae of The Inactive Company to explore how science-backed sleep tools are revolutionizing recovery for athletes, tactical professionals, and high performers everywhere. 🔗 Learn more about The Inactive Company: https://inactiveco.com/

Anna Reddington of Belmont University joins Performance Talk to share her journey from private-sector performance coaching to teaching the next generation of strength professionals. From big moves to big lessons, hear how she’s bridging the gap between theory and practice in S&C.

Can clinical research shape elite performance? Dr. John Farrell of Texas State University joins Performance Talk to explore how adaptive sports, athlete monitoring, and interdisciplinary teamwork are transforming sports science from the lab to the weight room—and why curiosity, collaboration, and community are key to long-term success.

Seton Hall’s Angelo Gennarelli joins Performance Talk to reflect on 20 years in college strength & conditioning, why climbing outward can be just as powerful as climbing up, and how to truly impact athletes beyond the weight room. A must-listen for coaches, parents, and future pros. #PerformanceTalk #StrengthAndConditioning #SportsPerformance #CoachingWisdom #LongGameLeadership #NSCA #HumanPerformance #AthleteDevelopment #CoachingJourney

What does it take to grow a two-credit class into a robust, multidisciplinary performance program? Dr. Joni Boyd of Winthrop University returns to Performance Talk with Ewell Gordon to share how she's helping redefine strength & conditioning education. From curriculum expansion to a $21M facility and a soon-to-open performance lab, this conversation dives into the evolution of exercise science, balancing academics with real-world application, and why performance is no longer just about athletes.

“Recovery isn’t a pause — it’s part of the plan.” In this global edition of Performance Talk, Dr. Jo Brown joins Dr. Ewell Gordon to break down the clinical-performance continuum, why individualized recovery matters, and how elite athletes can stay consistently healthy and competition-ready. If you're a coach, clinician, or athlete, this episode will change how you think about performance. #PerformanceTalk #SportsScience #AthleteHealth #TrainingIQ #HumanPerformance #RecoveryMatters