Two sets to failure. Beat the logbook. Never skip your mobility routine. I used to buy into all of it—and coaching more people changed my mind.

This week I break down how my approach to cardio, training volume, failure and progressive overload has changed. We also get into overcomplicated warm-ups, redundant exercises, posture, supersets and nutrition advice that sounded smart but made me feel like shit. Plus: where AI actually helps coaches and why an exercise swap isn’t always the answer when something hurts.

Timestamps:
00:00 Where AI helps coaches—and where it falls short
04:19 AI courses and the business-coaching pivot
07:35 Better execution before another exercise swap
12:02 Changing my mind as a coach—and rethinking cardio
16:44 Low volume and training to failure
21:14 Progress beyond adding weight and reps
23:34 Plateaus and overcomplicated warm-ups
28:07 Exercise variety and redundant training
32:11 Posture versus movement options
33:26 Rethinking posture and supersets
35:42 Supersets, logistics and gym etiquette
37:39 Intermittent fasting and nutrition rabbit holes
40:03 No carbs before training—and listening to client feedback
42:13 Getting it right instead of defending old beliefs

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At some point, trying harder stops being the answer. Once you’re already training hard and consistently, the next jump in progress comes from getting better at directing that effort.

Nick breaks down why more advanced training requires more intentionality, using glute training as the main example—from building the skills to hinge, stabilize, and produce force to progressing toward B-stance RDLs, single-leg work, and walking lunges. Then he gets into a Q&A covering the best glute exercises, sore elbows during dumbbell RDLs, the StairMaster, programming around movement biases, coaching habits, and what he’d be doing if he weren’t a coach.

Timestamps:

0:00 — Why Nick is useless after 6 p.m.
1:56 — Hitting 1,000 YouTube subscribers and almost getting his foot crushed
6:20 — Why hard work eventually stops being enough
10:59 — Progressing clients and building higher-level training skills
14:57 — What actually drives better glute training
20:05 — How to progress someone from basic hinges to single-leg RDLs
26:09 — Q&A: Are walking lunges the GOAT glute exercise?
30:51 — Q&A: Sore elbows from heavy dumbbell RDLs
35:34 — Q&A: Why use the StairMaster?
37:42 — Q&A: Programming around movement biases
42:17 — Q&A: What works vs. what coaches do out of habit
46:55 — Why coaches need their ideas challenged
49:19 — Q&A: What Nick would do if he weren’t a coach
51:34 — Who’s taller: Brandon or Jordan?

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Support the show:

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A good program on paper doesn’t guarantee good results.

This week I’m talking about what happens after you write the program. The exercises might fit the client’s goals, schedule, and skill level, but are they doing them the way you intended? Are they training hard enough? And when something hurts or progress stalls, do you actually know why?

A friend of mine had a client report shoulder pain during front raises. He’d specified a neutral grip, put it in the demo, and given her the instructions. When he finally got a video, she was using a pronated grip. That’s a small example of how much can change between writing a program and having someone execute it.

I get into using video and feedback before swapping exercises, building movement quality and effort together, and knowing when to push the logbook. I also talk about the Jaxson Dart injury takes, my fantasy football team falling apart, and the scooter powered wheelchair I saw in Playa del Carmen.

Timestamps

00:00 Last week’s unedited upload, becoming a sauna guy, and fantasy football
05:15 Jaxson Dart’s injury and the problem with claiming one movement habit could have prevented it
11:00 A scooter powered wheelchair in Mexico, my Spanish dubbed YouTube video, and the Elevated Coaching Systems workshop
13:45 Why a good program can still get bad results
22:30 The front raise story: why I ask for video before changing a client’s program
29:00 Movement quality, effort, and when to push the logbook
36:45 What makes a program good, and how coaching keeps it working

If you enjoy the show, subscribe wherever you listen, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who coaches.

https://www.instagram.com/nickridpath_/

Support the show:

Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC

Advisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC

Pre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-call

Spoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)