Episodes

  • The 10th Season of Performance Talk is coming February 2026 - From the Vault: Train Smarter with Dr. Mike Israetel

    The 10th Season of Performance Talk is coming February 2026 - From the Vault: Train Smarter with Dr. Mike Israetel
    Feb 2 2026
    In this powerful and perspective-shifting episode of Performance Talk, host Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Dr. Mike Israetel—renowned sports scientist, professor, co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, and competitive athlete. From high school wrestling roots to academic mastery in performance science, Mike shares his journey through education, self-discovery, and relentless pursuit of truth in training. Gain insider insights on the evolution of strength and conditioning, the misconceptions of overtraining, and why recovery is the unsung hero of peak performance. The conversation dives into the modern athlete’s toolkit—from high school weight rooms to AI-powered programming—and challenges long-held myths in sport and fitness culture.
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • The 10th Season of Performance Talk is coming February 2026 - From the Vault: Breaking It Down with John Flagg

    The 10th Season of Performance Talk is coming February 2026 - From the Vault: Breaking It Down with John Flagg
    Jan 26 2026
    In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with John Flagg, founder of Rebuild Stronger, to discuss the differences between powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and strongman training. John shares his journey from athletic training to coaching elite strength athletes and how he helps them recover from injuries while maximizing performance. Tune in for expert insights on training, injury prevention, and the mindset needed to excel in strength sports!
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • The 10th Season of Performance Talk is coming February 2026 - From the Vault: Finding the Balance with Dan Pope

    The 10th Season of Performance Talk is coming February 2026 - From the Vault: Finding the Balance with Dan Pope
    Jan 19 2026
    In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Dan Pope, a physical therapist and strength coach, to discuss the intersection of strength training and rehab. Dan shares his journey from fitness enthusiast to PT, the misconceptions about strength training in rehabilitation, and how the industry is evolving.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • The 10th Season of Performance Talk is Coming February 2026 - From the Vault: From England to the NHL: Stephen Nightingale’s Game-Changing Approach to Sports Science

    The 10th Season of Performance Talk is Coming February 2026 - From the Vault: From England to the NHL: Stephen Nightingale’s Game-Changing Approach to Sports Science
    Jan 12 2026
    Episode Overview Join host Dr. Ewell Gordon on this episode of Performance Talk as he welcomes guest, Dr. Steve Nightingale, a sports scientist and performance coach with the NHL's New Jersey Devils. Key Topics Discussed: Steve’s Journey: From being a passionate but not-so-great ice hockey player in England to becoming a performance coach for various international teams. Breaking into Sports Science: The unexpected path from teaching to discovering strength and conditioning, leading to roles across different countries including China and Russia. Adapting in Professional Environments: Insights on how Stephen navigated through diverse coaching styles and team dynamics across global leagues. Highlights: Challenges in Pro Sports: Debunking myths about the ease of working at high levels; discussing the relentless work needed both by athletes and support staff. Importance of Flexibility: How adapting plans according to real-time situations is crucial—illustrated by experiences like delayed flights affecting practice schedules. Data Utilization: Exploring how less can be more when it comes to data usage; focusing on meaningful metrics that align with team goals. Insightful Quotes: "The more I work in pro sport as a sports scientist, the less data I use." - Dr. Steve Nightingale "Write your plans in pencil, not pen." - A reminder about flexibility from Dr. Steve Takeaways for Professionals: Understand what coaches want before implementing new methodologies or technologies. Develop skills beyond theoretical knowledge—real-world application often deviates from textbook models.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • The Future of Sports Psychology: Leadership, Trust & Mental Performance in Action

    The Future of Sports Psychology: Leadership, Trust & Mental Performance in Action
    Dec 16 2025
    What does the next era of sports psychology look like? In this special roundtable, Dr. Hillary Cauthen, Dr. Brent Hogarth, and Dr. Eddie O’Connor join Performance Talk to break down where the profession is headed—covering trust-building with coaches and athletes, the rise of the CMPC, and why service, self-awareness, and collaboration are redefining what it means to perform at the highest level.
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    58 mins
  • From Data to Game Day: Craig Lane on Coaching, Confidence & the Future of Sports Science

    From Data to Game Day: Craig Lane on Coaching, Confidence & the Future of Sports Science
    Oct 14 2025
    Performance is evolving—and Craig Lane is helping shape the next generation. In this return visit to Performance Talk, Craig unpacks the growing role of sports science, why coaching still matters most, and how confidence, context, and collaboration drive athlete success.
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    54 mins
  • Building High-Performance Teams: Mauricio Elizondo on Medical Integration in Professional Soccer

    Building High-Performance Teams: Mauricio Elizondo on Medical Integration in Professional Soccer
    Oct 6 2025
    Dr. Ewell Gordon welcomes Mauricio Elizondo, Director of Sports Medicine at Austin FC to this episode of Performance Talk. With nearly two decades of experience spanning minor league baseball, professional tennis, and now Major League Soccer, Mauricio shares insights into building comprehensive high-performance teams. The conversation explores the evolving relationship between physical therapists and athletic trainers, the importance of data-driven decision making, and how communication bridges medical care with performance training. Mauricio discusses Austin FC's expanded team structure, including their new "return to play" specialist position, and offers valuable advice for young professionals entering the sports medicine field.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • More Than Muscle: Dr. Sean Green on Psychology, Purpose & Performance | Performance Talk

    More Than Muscle: Dr. Sean Green on Psychology, Purpose & Performance | Performance Talk
    Sep 30 2025
    From soldier to sports psych pro, Dr. Sean Green joins Performance Talk to unpack the powerful intersection of mental strength and physical readiness. In this deep-dive with Ewell Gordon, they explore athlete identity, injury recovery, neuroscience, and why performance is more than just what happens on the field.
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    58 mins