mentorship

S03|E260 Finding Your Way Through Adversity | Gage Taylor
S03|E260 Finding Your Way Through Adversity | Gage Taylor Health, Wellness, Nutrition & RecoveryStrength Coach Podcast

S03|E260 Finding Your Way Through Adversity | Gage Taylor

Adversity often becomes the greatest teacher. In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, Sports Performance Coach Gage Taylor shares how injuries, setbacks, and unexpected challenges shaped his coaching philosophy, strengthened his resilience, and helped him discover his purpose in sports performance.
June 17, 2026
S03|E259 How Challenges Shape Us | Josh Poahway
S03|E259 How Challenges Shape Us | Josh Poahway Leadership, Culture & CommunicationStrength Coach Podcast

S03|E259 How Challenges Shape Us | Josh Poahway

Josh Poahway joins the Samson Strength Coach Collective to discuss returning to Cache Public Schools, building trust with athletes and coaches, and how personal struggles helped shape his leadership philosophy. From community impact to mentorship and program development, Josh shares lessons on creating meaningful relationships and developing young people beyond sports.
June 17, 2026
S03|E247 Mastering Growth Mindset with Leo Totten
S03|E247 Mastering Growth Mindset with Leo Totten Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S03|E247 Mastering Growth Mindset with Leo Totten

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, Leo Totten from Totten Training reflects on five decades in strength and conditioning. From his early days in Olympic weightlifting to building elite programs and mentoring coaches nationwide, Leo shares lessons on growth mindset, leadership, athlete development, and the importance of maintaining balance while striving for excellence.
June 17, 2026
S03|E243 Strength Built to Last with Jerry Simmons | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S03|E243 Strength Built to Last with Jerry Simmons | Samson Strength Coach Collective Strength Coach PodcastTactical, Military & Public Safety

S03|E243 Strength Built to Last with Jerry Simmons | Samson Strength Coach Collective

Jerry Simmons’ journey through strength and conditioning is rooted in hard work, humility, and consistency. From a farm in Southwest Kansas to elite programs like Clemson, USC, the New England Patriots, and now Special Forces at Fort Bragg, Jerry reflects on mentorship, work ethic, and the lasting impact of Samson Equipment as it celebrates 50 years.
June 17, 2026
S03|E241 Building NBA Toughness with Bill Foran | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S03|E241 Building NBA Toughness with Bill Foran | Samson Strength Coach Collective Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S03|E241 Building NBA Toughness with Bill Foran | Samson Strength Coach Collective

Bill Foran reflects on a career that helped shape modern NBA strength and conditioning. From his early days in the late 1970s to building the Miami Heat’s legendary culture of toughness, Bill shares lessons on training, mentorship, and why caring about athletes still matters most.
June 17, 2026
S02|E238 Building from Scratch with Blaine Johnson | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S02|E238 Building from Scratch with Blaine Johnson | Samson Strength Coach Collective Facilities, Equipment & Weight RoomsStrength Coach Podcast

S02|E238 Building from Scratch with Blaine Johnson | Samson Strength Coach Collective

In this episode, we sit down with Blaine Johnson, Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance at Rider University, to talk about building a strength and conditioning program from the ground up. Blaine shares how mentorship shaped his path, what it took to earn buy-in across 25 varsity teams, and how learning to adapt with limited equipment helped him grow as a coach and leader.
June 17, 2026
S02|E230 Embracing Adversity with Liane Blyn | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S02|E230 Embracing Adversity with Liane Blyn | Samson Strength Coach Collective Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S02|E230 Embracing Adversity with Liane Blyn | Samson Strength Coach Collective

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Liane Blyn, Director of Sports Performance for Olympic Sports at Arizona State University. Liane discusses her path in strength and conditioning, how the field has evolved, and the unique challenges she’s faced as a female leader in a male-dominated profession. She dives into the importance of building connections, fostering accountability, and embracing adversity as a tool for both personal and athletic growth.
June 17, 2026
S02|E227 Creating Internship Pipelines in Tactical S&C with Mark Christiani | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S02|E227 Creating Internship Pipelines in Tactical S&C with Mark Christiani | Samson Strength Coach Collective Strength Coach PodcastTactical, Military & Public Safety

S02|E227 Creating Internship Pipelines in Tactical S&C with Mark Christiani | Samson Strength Coach Collective

On this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, tactical strength and conditioning coach Mark Christiani joins us to discuss his journey from military service to coaching—and why creating internship pipelines must become a priority in the tactical field. Mark explains how structure and adaptability help shape effective coaching, the Army’s growing demand for qualified strength coaches, and the crucial role of nutrition, education, and mentorship in developing the next generation of tactical professionals.
June 17, 2026
S02|E218 Taking Care of Yourself as a Coach with Jess Givens | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S02|E218 Taking Care of Yourself as a Coach with Jess Givens | Samson Strength Coach Collective Health, Wellness, Nutrition & RecoveryStrength Coach Podcast

S02|E218 Taking Care of Yourself as a Coach with Jess Givens | Samson Strength Coach Collective

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, Jess Givens, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of North Dakota, opens up about her transition from Division III to Division I coaching, the differences in athlete culture, and the crucial role of communication and relationship-building. Jess also shares her personal experience navigating burnout and how seeking therapy helped her regain balance and clarity in her life and coaching career.
June 17, 2026
S02-E213 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Kacie Allison
S02-E213 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Kacie Allison Career Development & MentorshipStrength Coach Podcast

S02-E213 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Kacie Allison

Kacie Allison, Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Bowling Green University, joins us to explore how leaving your comfort zone leads to growth. In this episode, Kacie walks us through her transformation from dual-sport athlete to confident strength coach, the impact of the pandemic on her career, and the role mentorship plays in shaping future coaches. Her insights on internships, self-reflection, and mental toughness offer guidance for anyone on the coaching path.
June 17, 2026
S02-E205 Building a Strength & Conditioning Department with Dakota Wilson
S02-E205 Building a Strength & Conditioning Department with Dakota Wilson Program Building & OperationsStrength Coach Podcast

S02-E205 Building a Strength & Conditioning Department with Dakota Wilson

Dakota Wilson, Director of Athletic Performance at Ouachita Baptist University, shares his journey from player to coach and the process of building a strength and conditioning department from scratch. He discusses mentorship, coach buy-in, and the foundational training philosophy that drives his program.
June 17, 2026
E084: Leo Totten (Totten Training Systems, LLC)
E084: Leo Totten (Totten Training Systems, LLC) Program Building & OperationsStrength Coach Podcast

E084: Leo Totten (Totten Training Systems, LLC)

In this episode, Leo Totten of Totten Training Systems, LLC joins me to share his journey through the world of weightlifting, and his thoughts on giving back to the sport that gave him so much. We cover topics such as mentorship, leadership, coaching philosophies, and what it truly means to be an "expert" or "master" of your craft. Leo provides incredible wisdom and insight in this one; enjoy! https://youtu.be/wf3McQloyrU
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E066 Steve Georgio (Fordham University)
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E066 Steve Georgio (Fordham University) Health, Wellness, Nutrition & RecoveryStrength Coach Podcast

Samson Strength Coach Collective: E066 Steve Georgio (Fordham University)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjbn_7sh4zc In this episode, Steve Georgio, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Fordham University talks to us about establishing staples in an athlete's approach to training, nutrition, and how he goes about meeting them halfway. Steve also gives us insight into the ways in which his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey has shaped some of the concepts and philosophies he uses when it comes to his career as a coach, and his life as a brother, son, friend, and mentor.
June 17, 2026