In this episode of the Evolving Performance Podcast, Kevin is joined by Eric Cressey, Director of Player Health and Performance for the New York Yankees and President and co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance. They delve into the importance of developing maximum strength for athletes and key characteristics of effective strength training methods. Eric discusses how to recognize when an athlete is strong enough and ready to pursue other primary training goals, acknowledging the evolution of...
In this episode of the Evolving Performance Podcast, Kevin is joined by Mike Robertson, President of Robertson Training Systems and co-owner of Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training (IFAST), named one of the top ten gyms in America by Men's Health. They explore the foundational principles of program design, individualizing training, and navigating the complexities of an athlete's career. Mike introduces his "7 Rs" framework for building effective training programs, emphasizing the importan...
In this episode of the Evolving Performance Podcast, Kevin is joined by clinical pharmacist, author, and metabolic health expert Jim LaValle to dive deep into the interconnected systems that underpin human health and performance. Jim introduces his “Five Triads” framework—an integrative approach that helps identify root causes of fatigue, poor recovery, gut dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances. They explore how stress, inflammation, and training load affect everything from decision-making and...
In this episode, Brijesh Patel discusses the critical role that leadership, character, and daily habits play in athlete development and long-term success, including: What coaches are really evaluating during recruiting and playing time decisionsCommon behavioral red flags that predict performance and developmental issuesHow to develop athletes who can handle adversity and lead themselves and othersPractical strategies for improving mindset, communication, and resilienceWhat athletes wish they...
In this episode, Andrew Hauser discusses the significant impact respiratory training can have on both performance and recovery, including: The science of breathing and how the relationship between carbon dioxide and oxygen can impact performance Specific breathing strategies to immediately impact short-term performanceLonger-term adaptations to respiratory trainingProgramming recommendations on how different breathing methods align with more traditional training practicesWhere athletes s...
In this episode, renowned hypertrophy expert Pat Davidson does a deep dive on building muscle, including: The required stimulus for hypertrophy – what is required for your body to put on muscleKey training considerations to maximize muscular developmentHow the longstanding assumption that a specific hormonal response to training was required for building muscle may be misguidedSpecial considerations for athletes that want to put on muscleWhat “hard gainers” – people that really struggle to pu...
In this episode, Maria Mountain, who specializes in goalie-specific training for hockey, shares her insights on: What makes the goalie position unique from forwards and defensemen and the implications this has for off-ice trainingWhy certain methods lead to goalies “over pushing” and getting out of position, and specific strategies to fix the issueThe role of strength training for goalies, and important information for goalies who don’t want to get too “bulky”Differences in the conditioning d...
In this episode, Vicki Bendus shares incredible insights into speed training for hockey, including: Key findings from her research on identifying the most impactful physical factors and related off-ice tests for on-ice speedSpeed profiling strategies to identify where a player ranks relative to their peers and what qualities they need to improve to maximize their speedSpecific training strategies players can use to improve their speedThe difference between acceleration and max velocity, how e...
Welcome to episode 0 of the Evolving Performance Podcast! As a quick introduction, my name is Kevin Neeld, and I’m currently the Director of Performance for the Boston Bruins. Prior to working in pro hockey, I spent time with USA Hockey’s women’s national team, and as a director at a private sports training facility working with athletes across a wide range of levels and sports. In 2020, I got my PhD in Human and Sport Performance and continue to stay actively engaged in research through ser...