The Speed Lab Podcast

Universal Speed Rating

Introducing The Speed Lab Podcast by Universal Speed Rating. Hosted by Les Spellman, Danny Foley, and Cici Murray, The Speed Lab Podcast dives into all things performance to help you train smarter and play faster. 

  1. How to Build Athlete Buy-In Within Your Training Facility: Matt Erdman, Veritas Athletic Performance

    5 FEB · VIDEO

    How to Build Athlete Buy-In Within Your Training Facility: Matt Erdman, Veritas Athletic Performance

    In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, guest host Darren Hansen sits down with coach and mentor Matt Erdman for a powerful conversation on the art of coaching. Matt Erdman Owns Veritas Athletic Performance and is a Universal Speed Rating Speed Lab Director.  They dive deep into building trust with athletes, the power of positive communication, adapting coaching style to the individual, and why relationships—not just programming—drive long-term results. This episode is packed with practical insights for coaches, gym owners, and anyone looking to create a stronger training culture that actually lasts. Timestamps00:00 – Intro & why Matt Erdman stands out as a coach 03:30 – Opening a facility: lessons learned & early mistakes 06:20 – Systems, organization, and why clarity matters 07:20 – Transition into The Power of Positive Selection 11:10 – Coaching delivery, trust, and athlete relationships 14:15 – Universal Speed Rating milestone & impact 15:25 – Individualizing coaching styles (men vs women, personalities) 18:05 – Building culture & uniting rival athletes 21:10 – Being approachable without lowering standards 24:10 – Consistency, clarity, and losing athlete trust 27:20 – Coaching less, saying more with fewer words 29:15 – Meeting athletes where they are mentally & physically 33:10 – Creating “wins” even on bad training days 35:05 – Communicating progress to parents 37:20 – Building resilient athletes beyond speed & strength 39:15 – Final thoughts & closing remarks If you'd like to learn more about how to working with Universal Speed Rating in your facility, schedule a call: https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast

    40 min
  2. Rethinking Acceleration Training: Joe Pedulla, Pedulla Performance

    29 JAN · VIDEO

    Rethinking Acceleration Training: Joe Pedulla, Pedulla Performance

    Darren Hansen sits down with Joe Pedulla to discuss rethinking acceleration training, working with youth athletes, and practical coaching strategies for time-constrained programs. They explore how to identify athlete types, balance strengths vs. weaknesses in training, and prepare for their upcoming webinar. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction & Triple H (Hardship, Highlight, Hero) 05:09 - Rethinking Acceleration: Joe's general philosophy 07:50 - Teaching young athletes: Gorillas vs. Cheetahs framework (force production vs. speed) 10:16 - Visual cues for coaches to identify athlete movement types 16:02 - Training strengths vs. weaknesses: when to focus on each 17:20 - In-season training: keeping athletes engaged and stimulated 19:21 - Working with limited time (2-3 hours/week with athletes) 23:40 - Sled training loads and programming discussion 32:58 - Why sleds rarely make athletes slower + recovery considerations 34:56 - Lateral movement patterns and "squat accelerators" in sport 39:18 - Program design: subtle changes for different athlete profiles 44:56 - Acceleration vs. deceleration: what separates athletes at game speed 47:27 - Where to follow Joe + closing thoughts

    48 min
  3. Eccentric and Isometric Training for Speed and Durability: Ryan Paul, Owner of New Athlete

    19 JAN · VIDEO

    Eccentric and Isometric Training for Speed and Durability: Ryan Paul, Owner of New Athlete

    The Speed Lab Podcast - Episode 17 Substitute host Darren Hansen of HansenAthletics sits down with Ryan Paul, owner of New Athlete and veteran performance coach with over two decades of experience training athletes. With more than 12,000 athletes trained since 2001, Ryan shares his evolution from conjugate periodization to an eccentric-focused training philosophy centered on force reduction and deceleration. The conversation dives deep into why athletes often return from college slower despite being stronger, the critical importance of teaching athletes to absorb force before producing it, and how long-duration isometrics (up to 300 seconds) are transforming athlete durability and performance. Ryan also breaks down his unique assessment methods using lunge positions to identify sprinting tendencies and explains why training volume in the weight room should better reflect the demands athletes face on the field. Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction with Darren Hansen 0:44 - Ryan Paul's background and 23+ years of athlete development 2:41 - Evolution from conjugate training and its limitations 3:54 - Why athletes get hurt decelerating, not accelerating 5:08 - Common deficiencies: athletes can produce force but can't absorb it 7:29 - Why college athletes return slower but stronger 9:39 - Programming ratios: ~80% eccentric/deceleration work 11:08 - Long-duration isometrics explained (5–300 seconds) 16:01 - Cueing isometric lunges and assessing sprint type 20:49 - Using USR technology to validate training observations 22:29 - Redefining "recovery" and reducing systemic inflammation 26:21 - Personal results from eccentric training 27:01 - Favorite movements: Bulgarian split squats and toddler patterns 29:34 - Crawling, coordination, and cortex development 31:00 - Daily integration of eccentric training 31:45 - Results: healthier athletes, better repeatability, reduced injury severity 33:26 - Advice for coaches: match training volume to game demands 36:21 - Closing remarks

    37 min
  4. Applied Sports Science Deep Dive with Marc Lewis, Director of Sports Science at Houston Texas

    1 JAN · VIDEO

    Applied Sports Science Deep Dive with Marc Lewis, Director of Sports Science at Houston Texas

    In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, Les Spellman sits down with Dr. Marc Lewis, Director of  Applied Sports Science for the Houston Texans, for a deep, practical conversation on what sport science really looks like inside elite performance environments. Dr. Lewis shares his unconventional journey — from military service to earning a PhD and leading applied sport science at the NFL level. Together, they unpack how sport science evolved in the U.S., why systems matter more than tech, how to actually manage athlete load (without “doing less”), and what coaches at any level can apply immediately. The Universal Speed Rating partners with private training facilities around the country that want to improve their speed system and grow their business. If you are interested in becoming a Speed Lab, click the link below to schedule an intro call with our team.  https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction & context 02:00 – Marc Lewis’s early life & military background 06:00 – Discovering human performance 10:00 – Education path & research foundation 14:00 – Entering sport science before it was a role 18:00 – Why sport science over traditional strength coaching 22:00 – Evolution of sport science in the U.S. 27:00 – Building systems vs chasing technology 32:00 – Athlete communication & buy-in 37:00 – Load management philosophy in team sports 44:00 – Practical guidance for high school coaches 52:00 – Fatigue monitoring & force plate philosophy 1:00:00 – Hidden stressors in NFL football 1:04:00 – Final thoughts & future of performance

    1h 12m
  5. Challenge Conventional Speed Training with Matt Hank, Head S&C Coach at Santa Monica College

    24/12/2025 · VIDEO

    Challenge Conventional Speed Training with Matt Hank, Head S&C Coach at Santa Monica College

    In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, host Les Spellman sits down with Matt Hank to challenge conventional speed training. They dive deep into acceleration and max velocity mechanics, why most coaching cues get lost in translation, and how elite speed is actually developed.  The Universal Speed Rating is looking to work with more elite training businesses through our Speed Lab partnership. If you are interested in systemizing your speed training and growing your business, click the link below to schedule a intro call with our team.  https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast Episode Timestamps00:00 – Matt’s background & entry into speed training 03:50 – Why respectful disagreement moves the industry forward 05:00 – Building athletes from the ground up 08:50 – USR milestone & why testing matters 09:32 – Horizontal force vs coaching language 14:00 – Organizing acceleration in a weekly plan 19:00 – Key components of an acceleration model 21:00 – Assessing athletes & teaching coaches what to see 25:15 – Principles of max velocity 27:00 – Do sprint drills actually matter? 32:40 – Strength, coordination, and late swing mechanics 36:50 – Forward foot speed explained 38:09 – Why flexion-based drills fall short 42:17 – Why getting better at drills ≠ getting faster 44:18 – What “works” vs what actually improves speed 48:00 – Extension, reflexive movement, and elite sprint models 52:20 – Reactive vs non-reactive athletes 55:00 – Physical qualities vs coaching cues 58:00 – Advice for athletes right now 59:00 – Individual differences in sprinting 01:01:00 – Closing thoughts on open dialogue & growth

    1h 2m
  6. EXOS NFL Combine Prep with Scott Salwasser, Head NFL Combine Coach at EXOS

    18/12/2025 · VIDEO

    EXOS NFL Combine Prep with Scott Salwasser, Head NFL Combine Coach at EXOS

    In this episode, Les Spellman sits down with Scott Salwasser, Head NFL Combine Coach at EXOS, to break down what goes into preparing elite athletes for the NFL Combine. From managing 50+ athletes at once, to profiling speed safely, to using force plates, and the 1080 Sprint to drive real performance. Scott walks through EXOS’s intake process, how data impacts programming and how low-volume, high-intensity speed work wins in the long run.  The Universal Speed Rating is seeking to partner with more elite training businesses nationwide through our Speed Lab initiative. If you are interested in systemizing your speed training and growing your business, click the link below to schedule a call with our team.  https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast Episode Timestamps 00:00 – 02:30: Reconnecting, Sparta roots, and why the old-school stuff still matters 02:30 – 05:30: Scott’s path to EXOS and stepping into a leadership role 05:30 – 08:30: How EXOS manages 50+ combine athletes without chaos 08:30 – 12:15: Weekly speed structure: acceleration, max velocity, resisted sprinting 12:15 – 16:45: Intake process: PT evals, force plates, LVP testing, and profiling safely 16:45 – 20:30: How data actually changes training (and when it should) 20:30 – 24:30: Force plate insights, asymmetries, RSI, and individualizing plyos 24:30 – 28:30: Strength profiling, OPR, and why some athletes need to train fast — and others heavy 28:30 – 31:00: Kaiser squats, barbell work, and combine-specific realities 31:00 – End: 225 bench pacing, combine lessons learned, and coaching takeaways

    59 min
  7. Lessons From Growing A Speed Training Business

    09/12/2025 · VIDEO

    Lessons From Growing A Speed Training Business

    In this different type of episode, Les shares the messy, unpolished origin story: from building the first “Speed Lab” in a school closet, to testing elite athletes before the system even existed, to struggling financially while trying to scale something no one had ever built before. He breaks down how analytics, education, business systems, and community became the pillars that carried the company past 200 Speed Labs worldwide. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Speed Lab, schedule a time with our team at the link below.  https://universalspeedrating.com/learn-more-partner-with-universal-speed-rating-speed-lab-podcast Episode Timestamps 00:00 – 01:02: Why this episode is personal + hitting 200 Speed Labs 01:02 – 03:40: How COVID, fatherhood, and a school basement led to the first Speed Lab 03:40 – 07:15: The first athletes tested & discovering what a “Speed Lab” really was 07:15 – 12:10: Standardizing speed, early testing chaos, and building the MPH database 12:10 – 17:17: Building software, courses, systems — and why community became the backbone 17:17 – 20:35: Burnout, overexposure, money struggles, and NFL players stepping up to invest 20:35 – 24:57: Finding his role, rediscovering the excitement, and blending family + business life 24:57 – 27:28: Lessons learned: Start before you’re ready & simplify everything you build

    28 min
  8. Off-season & In-season Speed Training with Kyle Bolton, Oregon Football Director of Speed & Performance

    02/12/2025 · VIDEO

    Off-season & In-season Speed Training with Kyle Bolton, Oregon Football Director of Speed & Performance

    In this episode, Les Spellman sits down with Kyle Bolton, Oregon Football Director of Speed & Performance, to break down how a top program actually builds, measures, and keeps speed all year long. They get into Oregon’s offseason blueprint, GPS and testing, how they balance Big Ten size with real game speed, and what NIL + the transfer portal mean for today’s strength/speed coaches. Kyle also shares what separates college speed work from combine prep and what athletes should be doing now if they want a shot at the league later. The Universal Speed Rating is looking to partner with more elite training businesses around the country with their Speed Lab partnership. If you are interested in systemizing your speed training and growing your business, click here to schedule a call with our team.  Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Kyle’s path to Oregon 02:30 – Building Oregon’s offseason speed plan 07:15 – Testing, GPS, and making data actually useful 12:00 – Getting bigger for the Big Ten without losing speed 21:30 – In-season speed, “go” drills, and game-speed standards 35:15 – Fastest dudes on the team & what they’re hitting 42:25 – NIL, coaching future, and where the job is headed 55:25 – Combine prep vs college speed & advice to athletes

    1h 1m
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About

Introducing The Speed Lab Podcast by Universal Speed Rating. Hosted by Les Spellman, Danny Foley, and Cici Murray, The Speed Lab Podcast dives into all things performance to help you train smarter and play faster. 

Information

  • Creator
    Universal Speed Rating
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Universal Speed Rating LLC
  • Show Website
    The Speed Lab Podcast

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