The Dan John Podcast - podcast cover

The Dan John Podcast

Conversations on strength, health, fitness, life, coaching, and anything else that comes up.

Dan John has spent his life with one foot in the world of lifting and throwing, and the other foot in academia. An All-American discus thrower, Dan has also competed at the highest levels of Olympic lifting, Highland Games and the Weight Pentathlon, an event in which he holds the American record.

Dan has written 14 books and has been coaching for over 40 years. He is a wealth of knowledge and is happy to share it freely.
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Episodes

EP 38 - Old Time Strongmen, Loaded Carries, and More

In this episode, I cover topics on old time strongmen, what makes loaded carries effective, how I teach tumbling, whether you need weightlifting shoes or not, and a program that only increases weight on the bar but switches exercises. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Apr 16, 202026 min

EP 37 - Giving Presentations, What's Missing from Calisthenics, and More

In this episode, Dan gives his guide to creating presentations, discusses a program involving dips, pull ups, and swings, talks about what's missing from bodyweight workouts, and makes a case for round back lifting. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Apr 14, 202028 min

EP 36 - Shift Work, After Mass Made Simple, Easy Strength without Deadlifts

At the start of this episode, I announce my latest workshop on YouTube called Don't Be Binary. I hope you enjoy it. After that, I get into your questions. This week they include topics like shift work, what to do after Mass Made Simple, how pushups affect the HKC+3, doing easy strength without deadlifts, changing the squat weight during MMS, and preparing for an isometric fitness test. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John Univer...

Apr 09, 202031 min

EP 35 - Single Leg Training, Deadlift Bar Height, My Favorite Exercise, and More

This episode took a little extra work on the backend, but we got it done! In this episode, I discuss the 10,000 Swing Challenge, my new [Resource Workshop]( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCi_zry5JCc ), lat activation, my experiences with my hip replacements, my primary assessment tool, the proper deadlift bar height, how coaches should transition to online training, my favorite exercise, my thoughts on single leg training, recovery, and my favorite non-fiction books. I hope you enjoy it! As al...

Apr 02, 202049 min

EP 34 - Cold Therapy, Lean Body Mass, Bodyweight Training, and More

We're starting to see some silver linings come out of this crisis we are all in. I discuss those briefly at the start of this podcast and then get into your questions. This week they cover hot and cold therapies, building lean body mass, bodyweight training for athletes, press variations that help with overhead pressing, off season training for wrestlers, whether a degree is valuable to strength coaches, situps, and an overhead pressing program template. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for l...

Mar 30, 202042 min

EP 33 - Deprivation Increases Capacity, Developing Speed, Hand Care, and More

Well, my coffee maker broke this morning. It got me thinking about how deprivation often increases capacity. I also answer your questions about developing speed as a sprinter, compressing rest periods, hand and wrist care, resting during MMS squats, and we have a couple reports from listeners on results with the 10,000 swing challenge and Tabata front squats. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( ht...

Mar 26, 202029 min

EP 32 - Another Coronavirus Update, Your Questions, and Feedback

I start this episode with a few more thoughts about the coronavirus and the long and short-term lessons we can learn from it. We also added a special discount code to the website, so you can try it out at a discounted price while everyone is at home avoiding the gym. Use code CORONA and you'll receive 3 months for $29 dollars. Your questions this week range from which protein powder to use on the Velocity Diet, breathing through your nose, rest periods, what medium training is, and we have an up...

Mar 19, 202034 min

EP 31 - Coronavirus Update, Your Questions, and Feedback

This is a special Coronavirus addition. I start the episode with a few comments and things to think about with this global pandemic. We hope everyone is able to stay as safe as possible and take care of each other. As always, I answer your questions as well and we had some really good ones this week. The topics include: fasting windows, the floor press, what vegetables are, sumo deadlifts, and Bigger Faster Stronger. Finally, we have an update from Nigel on how his training in the middle of his ...

Mar 16, 202044 min

EP 30 - Keys to Success, Squats for Runners, Knee Tucks, and More

I start this episode off with a discussion on my keys to success. It's really important and I hope you'll at least listen to those 10 minutes or so. After that, I get into your questions and this week they include topics like: squatting for runners, ego getting in the way of proper training, training around knee pain, developing knee tucks, and muscle imbalances. I hope you enjoy! As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]...

Mar 12, 202031 min

EP 29 - Coaching Feedback, Isolation Exercises, Milo, and Nutrient Timing

Sorry for the delay this week, folks! We had a little technical difficulty this week. This one is a short one, but there's some really valuable information in it. We had some really good questions and I go over coaching feedback loops, which are the most important part of coaching. I also touch on why people do isolation exercises, lessons from Milo and the bull, and nutrient timing. I hope you enjoy! As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com ...

Mar 06, 202027 min

EP 28 - Asymmetrical Risks, More Turkish Get Ups, Bands and Chains, and More

This episode begins with a fundamental piece of my coaching philosophy and that's asymmetrical risks. In short, asking what's the worst that can happen. Then I get into your ever growing list of questions. This week they touch on topics like KB deadlifts with Easy Strength, Turkish Get Ups, Beginning Competitive Weightlifting, total knee replacements, finding masters track meets, strength training for endurance athletes, bands and chains, dealing with asymmetries, tension in the kettlebell movem...

Feb 27, 202042 min

EP 27 - Strength Decreasing as Performance Increases, Doing Easy Strength Twice, Training Girls and More

Another bonus episode for you this week! In this episode, we cover questions about leaning out before Mass Made Simple, if you should do Easy Strength twice, coaching wrestlers, coaching girls vs. boys, the Delorme protocol, and how strength should *decrease* as performance increases. The last question was really interesting. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Feb 22, 202022 min

EP 26 - Binary Thinking, 10,000 Swings for Lent, Farmer's Swings, Kettlebell Standards, and More

This was an especially fun episode because I give you a little preview of the upcoming course called The Art of Coaching at danjohnuniversity.com. This preview is on the topic of binary thinking. There's more to it than what I give you here, but it's a nice taste. As always, I get into your questions as well. This week, they include topics like starting training at 47, outside or farmer's swings, doing swings for lent, landmine pressing for new lifters, kettlebell standards, dealing with a 12 ye...

Feb 20, 202030 min

EP 25 - Training Explosiveness, Training Post Pregnancy, The Art of Coaching, and More

This was a fun episode with lots of Daniels and Davids asking questions, which makes me extra happy. I start the episode with a teaser about The Art of Coaching course I'm putting together for the site and then get into your questions. This week they cover what I was like as a coach at 38, lessons from fictional movies and books, recommendations for CrossFitters, increasing quickness and explosiveness, training explosiveness without the Olympic lifts, measured rest periods on the Southwood progr...

Feb 13, 202043 min

EP 24 - Special Announcement, Minimalist Programs, Agility, Veggie Consumption, and More

We have a very special episode today! First off, it's an extra one because you all have been asking so many great questions. Second, we've changed the name of the site and wanted you all to know about it as soon as possible. The site is now called Dan John University and better reflects what we're trying to do with the site. I also get to your great questions and this week they include topics like minimalist training, developing a high school sprinter, agility, periodizing Easy Strength, how to ...

Feb 08, 202042 min

EP 23 - Hurdlers, Dunking, Program Design, Good Strength Books, and More

Thanks for checking out Episode 23 of The Dan John Podcast. In this episode, I answer your questions about training hurdlers, keeping your training at 20 minutes per day, developing traps and back, dunking basketballs, competition KBs, learning how to program, training legs without squats, good strength and conditioning books, and what my mobility workouts look like. I hope you enjoy it. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnworkouts.com [Dan John Workou...

Feb 06, 202028 min

EP 22 - Plateaus, Training Barefoot, Developing Speed, and More

These questions just keep pouring in, so we're going to be doing more frequent, shorter episodes for a while and see what you all think. In this episode, I cover questions about developing speed, training barefoot, what to do when you're *under-weight*, if the overhead squat is valuable after shoulder surgery, how to break through plateaus, and how to improve the deadlift with Easy Strength. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnworkout...

Jan 30, 202030 min

EP 21 - Following the Plan, Isometrics, Training Young Adults, and More

I have another episode filled with questions for you. We have lots of good questions this week touching on topics like being an overweight personal trainer, isometrics with Easy Strength, maintaining health in your 60s, beginning training programs for 13 year olds, sticking to the order of Mass Made Simple in a crowded gym, how strong is strong enough, and several more. It was a fun one to record. I hope you enjoy it. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjo...

Jan 23, 202034 min

EP 20 - Middle Age Fat Loss, Cycling, Ab Exercises, and More

We dive right into the questions this episode and answer a bunch of them! We have questions ranging from cycling, discus world records, the best ab exercises, fat loss in your 60s, whether you should learn to front squat, big lift rituals, and lots more. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnworkouts.com [Dan John Workouts]( www.danjohnworkouts.com )...

Jan 16, 202034 min

EP 19 - Asymmetrical Risks, Alternatives to O Lifting, Learning Beach Volleyball, and More

This was a fun episode because Brian was here in Utah to help me shoot it and a bunch of other videos that will be coming to my YouTube channel soon. In this episode, I answer questions about asymmetrical risks in health and fitness, getting better at beach volleyball, using KB snatches instead of Olympic lifts, recovering from surgery, CrossFit, ab wheel technique, whether I ever met Bill Star, and what you should use a weight vest for. This is a quick episode, but there is a lot packed into it...

Jan 09, 202028 min

EP 18 - Coaching 101, Process Resolutions, Heavy Swings, Bench Press Arching, and More

As the new year comes along, I'm always reminded about resolutions and how much I prefer process goals to outcome goals. After discussing that and Coaching 101, I get into your questions. There are a bunch of good ones in this episode including questions about why I meditate, armor building with one kettlebell, light Olympic lifting with sport training, practicing changing intensities mid-activity, lifting with long arms, arching while benching, why I teach the overhead squat so early, and how h...

Jan 02, 202055 min

EP 17 - My Current Training, Website Updates, and Lots of Your Questions

I start this episode with a quick review of my upcoming training and review a big update Brian made on the site. After that, I answer questions about what you should do if your training *is* working, using your heart rate monitor during park bench workouts, the best rep structures, preparing for a big trail run, and lots more. This was a big episode with some interesting questions. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnworkouts.com [Dan John Workouts]( w...

Dec 26, 201959 min

EP 16 - The Value of Smoking, Deadlifts with MMS, Carries on One Lift a Day, and More

I gave a talk last week and had a good question about smoking that got me thinking about the value of smoking. Don't worry, I still don't want you smoking for any reason, but it was an interesting thought process. I also answer your questions about adding carries to the one lift a day program, adding deadlifts to Mass Made Simple, preparing for master's softball league, and even dive into some parental advice. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to pod...

Dec 19, 201938 min

EP 15 - Responding to Last Week's Controversy, Sprinting in Your 50s, and More

I had fun with this episode. I start it off with a response to the controversy I started last week about my comments on Turkish getups and then move on to some really great questions. They range from beginning sprint training in your 50s, race walking, tension control, weak hip flexors, and programming endurance work within a Park Bench program. Thank you all for sending in questions. They keep getting better and better! As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@da...

Dec 12, 201939 min

EP 14 - "Bounce," "Rest a little," Get Ups, Making Weight, Mobility and Agility and More

This was a long one, but had a bunch of great questions. Thank you for sending them in! I introduce a topic I'm incorporating into my new workshops about resiliency and get into a wide range of questions about things like building mobility, balancing strength, hypertrophy, and endurance, why overhead presses are so good, and walking up to the bar for a competition lift. I had a lot of fun this week. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjoh...

Dec 05, 201956 min

EP 13 - Ideal Body Fat Percentages, Lean Made Simple, Blood Work, and More

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This is a special holiday for me and I'm grateful for each and every one of you. I really enjoyed the questions this week. They ranged from the blood work I get, to losing fat while doing Mass Made Simple, to what kind of strength training to do while training for endurance. As always, thank you for submitting your questions. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnworkouts.com [Dan John Workouts]( www.danjohnworkouts.com )...

Nov 28, 201945 min

EP 12 - Modern Easy Strength, Training for Climbers, Motivation and Habits, and More

We had some really interesting questions this week that touch on strength training for climbers, dealing (or not) with boredom, finding the motivation to improve your life and applying habits to make it happen, and what I recommend strength coaches read. I also layout how I would create and Easy Strength workout today. I hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnworkouts.com [Dan John Workouts]( www.danjohnworkouts.com )...

Nov 21, 201930 min

EP 11 - History of Circuit Training, Scheduling Programs, Training While Fasting, and More

Well folks, I'm back in the United States and quickly recovering from the jet lag of a long flight. I answer a bunch of questions this week and discuss topics like the history of circuit training, scheduling workout programs, training while fasting, strength standards for normal living, the first strength program I ever did, how women in their mid 50s can lose weight, and even touch on forgiveness again. I had a lot of fun with this episode and I hope you enjoy it. As always, thanks for listenin...

Nov 14, 201942 min

EP 10 - Squat Depth, Neck Training, Coaching Cues, and More

My last podcast on the road for a while! I'm heading back to the US this week, but I wanted to get another episode in to answer questions on neck training, losing muscle during the fast mimicking diet, finding the motivation to train after an injury, optimal overhead squat depth, and lots more. There were a bunch of questions this week and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnworkouts.com [Dan John Workouts]( www....

Nov 07, 201940 min

EP 9 - Good Neighbors, Fun Workouts for Kids, Overtraining, Forgiveness, and More

Sorry for the slightly worse audio quality in this episode. We recorded it on the road with less than ideal internet. I still wanted to give you lots of value though and answered a bunch of questions this week. In this episode, I discuss being a good neighbor, making workouts fun for kids, overtraining in the special forces community, wrist flexibility, transitioning from heavy lifting to a more holistic approach, and more. It was a fun episode and I hope you enjoy it. As always, thanks for list...

Oct 31, 201936 min
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