Digital Barbell Podcast

Jonathan & Blakley Fletcher

Helping busy people get strong, lean, & feel amazing with simple, effective plans. Personalized coaching | 💻 100% online Your Options To Train With Us: www.digitalbarbell.com/options

  1. FEB 5

    468 - Why "Taking It Easy" Doesn't Work For Injuries

    **FREE STRENGTH WORKOUTS!** https://www.digitalbarbell.com/freestrength Work 1:1 with Jonathan & Blakley - www.digitalbarbell.com/contact-us Most people think gym injuries happen because they’re training too hard. According to Will Morris, that’s usually backwards. In this episode, I sit down with Will Morris (DPT, SSC) to talk about what he’s actually seen in clinical practice, in the Army, and under the bar. We break down:The 3 most common types of injuries he sees from training (and daily life) Why many gym injuries come from under-training, not overtraining How inconsistent training creates fragile tissues The mistake people make when they try to “play it safe” Why pain avoidance often makes things worse long term The mindset required to train for decades, not just a few good months Will brings a rare perspective—combining physical therapy, strength coaching, and military experience—to explain why strong people tend to be more resilient, not more broken. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a loop of:“Train → tweak something → back off → lose progress → repeat” This conversation will help you rethink how injuries actually happen—and how to train in a way that keeps you moving forward. Listen if you care about getting stronger, staying healthy, and training for the long game. Subscribe for more conversations on strength, health, and sustainable training Leave a comment with your biggest takeaways.

    1h 7m
  2. JAN 29

    467 - 5 Things No One Told us About Getting In Shape In Your 30's & 40's

    FREE WEEK OF WORKOUTS! - https://www.digitalbarbell.com/freestrength Getting fit in your 30s and 40s shouldn’t feel this confusing… but for a lot of people, it does. In this episode, we break down 5 things nobody told us about getting fit in your 30s & 40s—the lessons we learned the hard way after years of training, coaching, and watching motivated people stall out despite “doing all the right things.” This isn’t about extreme workouts or perfect diets. It’s about understanding what actually matters now—and how to train, eat, and live in a way that works with your current life. In this episode, we cover: 1️⃣ Maintenance is a myth Why “just maintaining” your fitness usually leads to backsliding—and how small changes like tempo, range of motion, rest periods, drop sets, and micro-loading keep progress moving forward without wrecking you. 2️⃣ Why muscle matters more as you age Cardio is important, but muscle is harder to gain later in life. We talk about how strength training fights metabolic decline, improves insulin sensitivity, supports joint health, prevents injury, and protects long-term independence. 3️⃣ Nutrition matters more now (not less) Your metabolism didn’t suddenly break—but your lifestyle probably changed. We explain why you have less margin for error in your 30s and 40s, how small calorie mismatches add up fast, and why prioritizing real food makes everything easier. 4️⃣ Sleep is your superpower Sleep affects hunger, mood, cognition, and workout performance more than most people realize. We break down why being sleep-deprived can lead to eating 300–400 extra calories per day—and what to control if your schedule isn’t perfect. 5️⃣ Have a plan, or be left behind If you don’t have a plan for your health, you’ll slowly lose it. We compare fitness to financial planning and explain why an evidence-based, practical plan creates freedom—not restriction. If you’re in your 30s or 40s and feel like staying fit takes more effort than it used to, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it. 👉 Subscribe for practical strength training, nutrition, and real-life fitness advice 👉 Learn more about our coaching at Digital Barbell https://www.digitalbarbell.com/contact-us

    39 min
  3. JAN 15

    465 - Is the New Food Pyramid Better or Worse? Coaches Q&A

    You're working out, but you don't look like it. Here are the 10 reasons why, and what to do instead: https://www.digitalbarbell.com/looklikeyoulift Are you actually training hard enough? You’re showing up, lifting weights, and trying to “do the right things”… but progress feels slow, inconsistent, or confusing. In this episode, we answer some of the most common (and most misunderstood) questions about strength training, effort, and body composition—especially for people who are already working out but aren’t getting the results they expect. In this episode, we cover: How to tell if you’re training hard enough Why most productive sets happen 1–3 reps from failure How to choose weights that actually drive progress Why soreness isn’t a reliable indicator of a good workout The simplest feedback loop you have: strength progression. Is lifting 2–3 days per week really enough? Why consistency + progression matter more than frequency How 2–3 focused sessions can outperform 5 rushed or random workouts When more days help—and when they just add fatigue How to choose a schedule you can repeat for months, not weeks Why you’re getting stronger but don’t see physical changes The difference between neurological strength gains and muscle growth How weekly volume impacts hypertrophy (and why “once a week” isn’t enough) The role calories play in building muscle—and why a small surplus works Why fat loss only seems to happen when you’re ‘on a diet’ How diets create results by changing behavior, not magic rules Why weight returns when the rules disappear The real goal: shrinking the gap between diet behavior and real life Why the scale goes up when you start liftingMuscle glycogen, inflammation, and short-term weight gain Appetite changes and the “I earned this” trap Body weight vs body composition—and which one actually matters If you’re putting in the effort but feel stuck, frustrated, or second-guessing your approach, this episode will help you connect the dots—and simplify what actually drives results.👉 Want structure, clarity, and a plan that works in real life? Check out our coaching and training programs at Digital Barbell https://www.digitalbarbell.com/options Email us: jonathan@digitalbarbell.com blakley@digitalbarbell.com

    41 min
  4. JAN 8

    464 - The ABCs of Strength Training (Why Most People Overcomplicate It)

    Beginner Strength Program Begins 1/12/26! - Want to get stronger without getting hurt or bored to tears? Our 8-Week Program guarantees results! Join today! - https://www.digitalbarbell.com/strengthmadesimple Most people don’t struggle with strength training because they’re lazy. They struggle because they’re doing way more than they need to. Too many exercises. Too much variety. Too much “hardcore” stuff that looks impressive… and delivers very little. In this episode, we break strength training down into three simple principles that actually work — and explain why simplicity isn’t a limitation, it’s a feature. The ABCs of Strength Training: A — Adherence - The most underrated variable in fitness. One great workout doesn’t build strength. One great week doesn’t either. Consistency over time does. If your program leaves you wrecked, sore, and dreading the next workout, it’s not sustainable — and eventually, you quit. If you can’t stick to it, nothing else matters. B — Basics The “boring” lifts that build real strength. Squats - Deadlifts - Presses - Rows - Chin-ups - Pull-ups You don’t need 30 exercises..You need to get better at the ones that recruit the most muscle and demand real effort. Don’t confuse soreness with progress. And don’t avoid effective exercises just because they aren’t flashy. C — Continue to Add This is where results come from. Strength improves when you gradually increase the challenge over time — not when you do random workouts and hope for the best. That can mean: Adding weight - Adding reps - Adding sets (strategically) - Better control and cleaner reps - More range of motion - Less rest with the same work. - But none of that works if you don’t track what you’re doing. The big takeaway:Strength training meets you where you are. It’s not about lifting insane weight or training like a lunatic. It’s about: ✔ Doing a program you enjoy ✔ Showing up consistently ✔ Training the right movements ✔ Pushing yourself appropriately ✔ And adding a little more over time Simple. Effective. Sustainable.

    25 min
5
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

Helping busy people get strong, lean, & feel amazing with simple, effective plans. Personalized coaching | 💻 100% online Your Options To Train With Us: www.digitalbarbell.com/options

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