Claim OwnershipThe Reactive Training Systems Podcast
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Everything about RTS, auto-regulation, powerlifting, strength, and getting strong for coaches and athletes alike!
221 Episodes
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How do you turn injury and setbacks into lifetime personal bests on the platform? In this episode, Coach Mike, Coach John and Dr. Nathan Dailey break down the training strategies, recovery methods, and psychological tools that fueled his recent squat, deadlift, and total PRs. Their conversation offers practical insights on velocity testing, environmental factors, and experimentation for anyone preparing for high-level powerlifting competition.
Coach Mike, Coach Mel and Pawel Jurczynski dive into high-frequency training systems, sharing insights from the European Powerlifting Conference and Pawel's gym in Poland. They break down program structure, polarization, recovery, and innovative BFR applications—offering practical, actionable guidance for lifters at any level.
How much should a coach shape an athlete's technique, and how much should be left to self-discovery? In this episode, Coach Mike and Coach Andrew unpack the balance between guidance and individuality in powerlifting, exploring how movement variability, light-load training, and experiential learning help lifters find their strongest, most natural form.
How can lifters and coaches apply the latest research to train smarter and perform better? In this podcast, Coach Mike and Andrew talk with Zac and Josh from Data-Driven Strength about evidence-based practices, sports psychology, and the evolving strategies in powerlifting. They explore key topics like proximity to failure, training volume and frequency, and how to bridge the gap between research and real-world coaching.
Equipped powerlifting isn't just about putting on tighter gear—it's about pressure, trust, and problem-solving when it matters most. In this episode, Coach Mike, Coach Mel sit down with Hugo Duarte and Dominic Wetekam to uncover what really happens behind the scenes. They explore weight management, training logistics, and why equipped lifting feels more like a true team sport than anything else. If you've ever wondered why equipped lifters can't do it alone, how handlers make or break a meet, or what makes this discipline so demanding, this deep dive is for you. It's not just lifting weights—it's mastering skill, trust, and teamwork under pressure.
Dr. Nathan Dailey returns to the RTS Podcast to talk with Coaches John Garafano and Ross Leppala about powerlifting rehab, competition stress, and high-level performance. Dr. Nathan's first powerlifting experience, what it taught him about lifters' needs, and his role in supporting athletes at IPF Worlds. The conversation dives into his individualized rehab strategies - focused on helping lifters become pain-free, rebuild momentum, and return to competition. For support or consultation with Dr. Nathan, visit the RTS Training Lab or book a consultation through our store.
In this episode of Reactive Training Systems, Coach Ross Leppala and John Garafano discuss John's journey back to competitive powerlifting after a significant hiatus due to injuries and life circumstances. They delve into their training strategies, the importance of environmental factors, and the role of emerging strategies in achieving optimal performance. John shares his inspiring story of overcoming a severe neck injury, weight loss during a move, and the impact of a supportive community.
In this episode, Belgian coach and athlete Jochen Strubbe shares his coaching journey in the sport, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity in training. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of training methodologies, such as high frequency SBD, and the importance of a supportive community. The coaches also discuss the role of communication and trust in athlete-coach relationships, touching upon the impact of training environments and personalized approaches to coaching.
In this episode of the RTS Podcast, Coach Mike and Coach Mel talk with Thomas Lilly, founder of Zero Weakness Gyms. Known for coaching elite lifter Colton Engelbrecht, Thomas shares his approach to technique, programming, and frequency in powerlifting. They dive into biomechanical rules, RPE, velocity-based training, and more.
What can 20 years of powerlifting still teach you? In this episode, Coach Mike reflects on lessons from competing at the Nationals, sharing insights on competition prep, travel challenges, weight cuts, and evolving training strategies, especially for deadlifts.
Coach Mike and Mel sit down with 2025 Sheffield champion Kjell Bakkelund. They dive into the art of coaching, building strong coach-athlete relationships, and making smart training decisions. Kjell also shares valuable insights from his powerlifting journey. Whether you're an athlete or coach, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Don't miss it!
In this episode, we dive into the art of self-coaching in powerlifting with Ade Omisakin. We talk tracking progress, spotting trends, and using tools like velocity-based training to make smarter decisions in the gym.
Coach Mike, John and our newest RTS Coach Andrew discuss gym safety, managing fatigue, and the differences between dynamic and static RPE systems. They share practical experiences and strategies for improving strength training outcomes across all levels.
This conversation explores powerlifting, focusing on the recent Sheffield competition, coaching strategies, and competition challenges. Kedric Kwan discusses the role of judges, grip strength, and the balance between technical execution and psychology in performance. Coach Mike, Mel and Kedric highlight the importance of communication, flexibility in training, and the need for both discipline and adaptability in coaching. They also touch on philosophical aspects, emphasizing enjoyment, epistemic humility, and applying the scientific method to training.
Mike and Gaby are joined by Kelly Mann, fresh from coaching at Sheffield, to discuss her experience as the first female coach at the event. They cover the challenges and environment of coaching at such a high level, particularly focusing on Meg Scanlon, and her remarkable performance. They also delve into coaching insights, including managing workflow, boundaries, and personal growth, and the effects of external factors on training outcomes.
The excitement about Sheffield 2025 is still high. Coach Mike, Peter and Gaby reflect on the competition and strategy of the attempt selection for Thai lifter Kasemsand Senumong (also known as Opor).
In this episode, Mike and Ross discuss various techniques and mental strategies in powerlifting training, diving into the importance of intentional training and mental preparation. Ross shares personal stories and experiences from his powerlifting career, including his recent world championship victory. The conversation touches on diverse training approaches, decision-making in training, handling setbacks, and the importance of internal vs external motivation.
To share the excitement about Sheffield this year, coach Mike and Mel sit down with Kasemsand Senumong, also known as Opor Kasem, the current 66kg world champion. Opor shares his training approach leading up to the competition, talks about his powerlifting journey since joining RTS and explains his mindset towards Sheffield.
In this episode, coach Mike and Mel are joined by Coach Jason Tremblay from The Strength Guys to discuss various approaches to training elite powerlifters. They cover the fascinating coaching methods employed for lifters like Taylor Atwood, Joe Jordan, and Celine Crum, detailing specific strategies for strength, injury recovery, and performance optimization. Jason shares his journey into coaching, his experiences in strength and conditioning, and how these learnings shape his current practices. This engaging conversation provides a deep dive into the intricacies of powerlifting coaching and the collaborative efforts required for high-level athlete development.
The RTS team celebrates a successful year, sharing highlights, key achievements, and challenges faced throughout the year. Mike, Mark, Ross, Gaby, Peter, Mel and Adam attended this roundtable discussion.
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