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.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

EP 62 - Undoing Sitting, KB Snatch Tricks, High School Insights, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses a KB program for softball and baseball players, kettlebell snatch coaching cues, lifting during throwing season, some in depth insights about coaching high school athletes, working out with your child, undoing too much sitting, the best DJU program for hypertrophy, and losing the last bit of fat after being obese. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Oct 01, 202035 min

EP 61 - Coaching High School, Preparing for Surgery, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses some of his lessons from teaching high school lifters, tips on avoiding ACL injuries, low rep training after a heart attack, getting through an overhead pressing plateau, meal prepping efficiently, healthy food, training cardio safely, and calculating 1RMs. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Sep 24, 202039 min

EP 60 - Mark Twight, When to Buy a Barbell, Atrophy, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses how to exhaust the use of a kettlebell, what he learned from Mark Twight, when to invest in a barbell, tips on learning the jerk, socially distanced gym classes, doing the Moutain Climbing program year round, rebuilding an atrophied leg, training around hemorrhoids, getting through a weight loss plateau as a 35 year old woman. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Sep 17, 202043 min

EP 59 - Presses, Mantathalons, At Home Workouts, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses increasing your press with poor shoulder mobility, training for a mantathalon, 30 minute at home workouts, making substitutions in Mass Made Simple, circuit training versus normal training, and excessive sweating. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Sep 10, 202022 min

EP 58 - Going Lighter to Get Stronger, 3 Day Easy Strength, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses doing Easy Strength 3 days per week, getting started as a coach, going lighter to get stronger, a kettlebell focused hypertrophy program, pressing the 48kg kettlebell, doing Mass Made Simple twice, strength training for tennis, kayak strength training, and feedback from the Southwood program and Velocity Diet. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Sep 03, 202036 min

EP 57 - Turkish Get Ups, Easy Strength for Fat Loss Update, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses heavy Turkish get ups, an update to the Easy Strength for fat loss program, headaches after pressing, big KB weight jumps, extra heavy Mass Made Simple, improving sprint speed, increasing your back squat, strength differences between Americans and others, building muscle and losing fat, becoming a coach later in life, improving striking power, sumo and conventional deadlifts, and a high school football program. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohn...

Aug 27, 202044 min

EP 56 - Deadlifts, Easy Strength, Team Training, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses a question from an 11 year old martial artist, building core strength for beginners, building your back using Easy Strength, how heavy you should KB snatch, how to increase your deadlift without doing heavy deadlifts, using ladders to build strength, specific strength loss, training a team using social distancing, and using the contrarian approach for the shot put. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://w...

Aug 20, 202039 min

Special Episode - Fat Loss and Nutrition

We have a special episode for you this week! Instead of the normal question and answer format, we uploaded the audio from a recent workshop that was very popular on YouTube. You can see the slides that go along with the workshop there. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Aug 13, 202042 min

EP 55 - Plyometrics, Cold Weather, Weight Loss Update, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses doing plyometrics in your 60s, a 2-day high school program, what to do for a 14 year old, how to train in cold weather, changing your progressions on easy days, books on the history of strength, doing the Olympic lifts with power lifts, and Tim's weight loss journey update. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Aug 06, 202028 min

EP 54 - Gut Health, Grip Strength, Hip Health, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses getting value from workshops, using the push press in Easy Strength, breathing during exercise, his thoughts on supplements, using complexes for water polo, cleaning with a bad elbow, getting back into discus throwing, training around a bad hip, burden carries, grip strength, only training a few lifts, and his gut health. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Aug 02, 202048 min

EP 53 - Grief, Mass Made Simple for Older Lifters, Pole Vault, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses 5/3/1 versus Easy Strength, the concepts of bow and arrow and hammer and stone, double kettlebell movements, going through grief, highland game training after a powerlifting competition, Mass Made Simple for 60+ year olds, pole vault training, gymnastic rings, training for obstacle course races, and what is a hypertrophy and mobility program. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.co...

Jul 30, 202043 min

EP 52 - Teaching Online, High School Boys, Tranquil Mind, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses strength goals for life, packing the shoulders, transverse plane training, developing a tranquil mind, high school boys in the weightroom, developing a PE curriculum, squatting when you can't squat, teaching online, and his latest diet experiment. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Jul 16, 202039 min

EP 51 - Deadlifts or Squats, Complex Weight, and More

In this episode, Dan covers 50+ mobility work, 70+ hypertrophy work, adding cardio to Mass Made Simple, deadlifts or squats for athletes, increasing motivation, Mass Made Simple for Women, single leg bulking programs, training for obstacle races, using straps while lifting, and the weight used in complexes. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Jul 09, 202025 min

EP 50 - Training on the Road, Easy Strength Questions, and More

In this episode, Dan answers a few Easy Strength questions, discusses a dumbbell one lift a day variation, kb swing technique, using kbs for rugby prep, doing Mass Made Simple without a bench, rebooting CrossFit, training when you're older than 55, preparing for the military throwing test, training on the road, the updated Velocity Diet, working around a wrist injury, and zercher and safety bar squats. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( ht...

Jul 02, 202046 min

EP 49 - Fasting After Training, Learning to Overhead Squat, and More

Dan discusses convincing a father to change, how long muscle mass lasts, dumbbell only programs, fasting after training, kettlebells that don't fit, learning to overhead squat, leg work with back pain, mixing cardio with strength training, the value of the half kneeling press, the why behind exercise selection, training for SWAT, and unstable carries. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Jun 25, 202042 min

EP 48 - Strongman Program, Writing Books, Racing to 315 Deadlift and More

In this episode, Dan discusses a 3-day strongman program, balancing pushing and pulling strength, writing books, getting to a 315 deadlift as soon as possible, the connections between religion, academics, and strength, split vs. full body programs, losing weight when you're over 300 pounds, exercises for tight hip flexors, training in the morning, working towards mastery, weight progressions during Easy Strength, and how recent events will impact the upcoming football season. Enjoy! --- Have a q...

Jun 18, 202047 min

EP 47 - Raising Children, Advice for Myself, and More

In this episode, Dan discusses adding pull ups to the Southwood program, what advice Dan would give his younger self, advice on raising children, the best exercise for posture, using Easy Strength with gymnastics movements, doing Easy Strength all year long, taking care of your hips, keep a young lifter interested, whether babies should walk early, and the purpose of the 10,000 Swing Challenge. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://ww...

Jun 11, 202026 min

Special Episode - Dick Notmeyer Workshop

This is the audio recording of the [Dick Notmeyer Workshop]( https://youtu.be/TxGk6Un0TlM) on YouTube. --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )

Jun 05, 202024 min

EP 46 - Big Lifts with 10,000 Swings, Percentages for Women, and Rep Ranges

In this Episode, Dan discusses adding big lifts to the 10,000 Swing Challenge, feedback on using the Big 21 program as a beginner program, percentages for female lifters, programming around cycling season, programming for club volleyball players, rep ranges for exercises, and what's missing from a kettlebell only program. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Jun 04, 202034 min

EP 45 - Developing Young Atheletes, Squatting Deeply, Leaning Out and More

Topics include changing waist size, dealing with kb rips, warm up tips, finding a good coach, a one workout per week program, preparing for rugby season, running stairs, dealing with toxic family members, strength training for boxers, upper body work with bad shoulders, and a program for a wildfire firefighter. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

May 28, 202036 min

Special Episode - Dardik, Maffetone, and DeVany Workshop

This is the audio recording of the [Lesser Known Pioneers in Strength Training Workshop]( https://youtu.be/efbHdoJWzKc) on YouTube. --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )

May 23, 20201 hr 15 min

EP 44 - Developing Young Atheletes, Squatting Deeply, Leaning Out and More

In this episode, Dan discusses adding missing pieces to programs, blood flow restricted training, buliding overhead squat mobility, developing young athletes, squatting deeply, skipping off season training, leaning out before bulking, preparing for pro wrestling, rest periods, getting bigger or stronger, and teaching someone to squat. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

May 21, 202032 min

EP 43 - Deloading, Cycling Programs, Making Sandbags, and More

We received several interesting questions this week! How to do 5/3/1 without a squat rack, extending the 10,000 swing challenge to 8 weeks, using alternative bars, how to cycle programs, how I deload my athletes, how to increase the power clean, my thoughts on prowlers, rucking weight standards, and how to make sandbags were most of the topics covered. I think there were a few more as well. Enjoy! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.da...

May 14, 202041 min

Special Episode - How to Learn Workshop

This is the audio recording of the [How to Learn Workshop]( https://youtu.be/I-g_tqYe_MA) on YouTube. --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )

May 08, 202041 min

EP 42 - Decisions, Loaded Stretching, Easy Strength Cardio and More

We have a bunch of questions this week! Thank you for sending them all in! Topics this week: loaded stretching, cardio with Easy Strength, family resistance, getting women to lift, how to train for longevity, explanations for a couple of my standards, my decision making process, Easy Strength for highland games, the Big 21, using snatches instead of swings in Easy Strength, Mass Made Simple with a large gap in the middle, adults learning the Olympic lifts, the WTH kb effect, training around bad ...

May 07, 202047 min

Special Episode - Recovery Workshop

This is the audio recording of the [Recovery Workshop]( https://youtu.be/imjJBQF3TcQ) on YouTube. --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )

May 01, 202017 min

EP 41 - High Rep Pull Ups, Olympic Lifting, and MAPS

This episode has topics that range from paralysis by analysis, high rep pull ups, Olympic lifting, middle aged pull up syndrome, and sleeplessness associated with deadlifting. It's fairly short, but there are some good questions. I hope you enjoy. --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )

Apr 30, 202022 min

Special Episode - Easy Strength Workshop

This is the audio recording of the [Easy Strength Workshop]( https://youtu.be/sdfHcrHIv8k) on YouTube. --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )

Apr 27, 202031 min

EP 40 - Meal Timing, Lifting Standards, and A Lot More

There were a bunch of questions this week. I get right to it and it still took me over an hour to get to them all. They range from meal timing, adding 15 pounds to your deadlift, my faith tradition, jumping from program to program, and a lot more. I hope you enjoy it. --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Apr 23, 20201 hr 12 min

EP 39 - KB Easy Strength, Homemade Equipment, and Band Training

This episode is a little shorter than usual, but I wanted to put out two this week anyway. I cover your questions on KB Easy Strength, my favorite homemade equipment, how often you should do the 10,000 swing challenge, rep ranges for cross country skiers, training for baseball at home, and my thoughts on band training systems. As always, thanks for listening! --- Have a question? Send it to podcast@danjohnuniversity.com [Dan John University]( https://www.danjohnuniversity.com )...

Apr 20, 202026 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android