PREP COACH PODCAST

Prep Coach Podcast

Giving you the Best Knowledge and Tools that you can Practically Apply to become a better Competitor and Coach 🏆 🎙Hosted by Michael Trimboli, Scott Morrell, & Michael Galante. #prepcoachpodcast

  1. 4d ago

    OLYMPIA RECAP | ATHLETE POTENTIAL & PLACINGS | COACHING SCOPE | BODY FAT % | EP#190

    After recapping Perth and Wayne’s latest win, the boys break down the Olympia before getting into athlete potential, disappointing placings, coaching scope, and whether extremely low body-fat levels are actually sustainable for female athletes. We cover:✅ Perth State Show recap and Wayne’s latest win✅ Managing a peak remotely across prejudging and finals✅ Olympia Open Bodybuilding reactions, including Nick, Samson and Derek✅ How much a physique can change between prejudging and finals✅ Bikini Olympia observations and the value of seeing the world’s best athletes in person✅ When a coach sees more competitive potential in an athlete than the athlete sees themselves✅ Why you can’t make someone want competitive bodybuilding✅ Handling disappointing placings without negatively influencing the athlete✅ Why a placing doesn’t determine whether an athlete presented their best-ever look✅ Accepting the subjectivity of judging and focusing on what you can control✅ Whether Bikini should include a judged walk to the rear✅ Where coaching ends and the role of psychologists and other professionals begins✅ Recognising when something is outside a coach’s scope and referring out✅ Whether 10% body fat is sustainable long term for a female athlete✅ Why body-fat percentages shouldn’t be confused with a particular “look”✅ Building enough muscle to maintain an impressive physique at a more sustainable body-fat level 🎧 Olympia reactions, athlete potential, judging, coaching boundaries and female body-fat sustainability. Disclaimer The information presented is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition, supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendations or use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk, and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

  2. Sep 23

    COACHING CHANGES | JUDGING FEEDBACK | PREP CARDIO | BINGE EATING IN PREP | EP#189

    After another huge weekend in Sydney, the boys recap the show before getting into some important coaching and contest-prep conversations. This episode covers when to change coaches, interpreting judging feedback around conditioning and fullness, setting cardio intensity during prep, dealing with binge eating as prep gets harder, and some of the biggest lessons the boys have learned through years of coaching and competing. We cover:✅ Sydney State Show recap and the rising standard heading towards Nationals✅ Why the overall athlete experience matters beyond the stage✅ When to change coaches if you weren’t happy with your prep or peak week✅ Why your new coach taking over the post-show reverse and recovery can be important✅ How to approach your coach when you’ve decided to move on✅ Why “improve conditioning” may not always mean simply getting leaner✅ The difference between needing more conditioning, muscle tissue or fullness✅ Why judging feedback needs to be interpreted for the individual athlete✅ Setting heart-rate and calorie targets for prep cardio✅ Why individual fitness matters more than chasing one universal heart rate✅ Binge eating during prep, identifying triggers and when continuing may no longer be the right move✅ Why sleep, stress, environment and diet fatigue need to be considered✅ What keeps the boys committed to bodybuilding beyond trophies and transformations✅ The biggest lessons they’ve learned through coaching, training and competing✅ Why experience and coaching more athletes improves decision-making over time 🎧 A big episode on coaching changes, judging feedback, prep cardio, managing the harder stages of contest prep and lessons learned through years in bodybuilding. Disclaimer The information presented is for informational and entertainment purposesonly and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professionaladvice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult yourphysician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition,supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendationsor use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk,and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

  3. Sep 16

    PEAK WEEK WATER & SODIUM | DOMS & MUSCLE GROWTH | OFF-SEASON CARDIO | EP#188

    This week the boys dive into some of the finer details of peak week, including how water and sodium should be managed as carbohydrates increase, why aggressively cutting either can actually make your look worse, and the small adjustments that matter on show day. They also break down whether DOMS and mind-muscle connection really matter for muscle growth, plus how much cardio you can realistically do in an off-season before it starts impacting recovery and your ability to grow. We cover:✅ MG's quad rupture and unexpected hospital visit✅ Gold Coast recap and looking ahead to the Sydney State Show✅ Do you actually need DOMS to grow?✅ Mind-muscle connection vs whether the target muscle is actually working✅ Why excessive soreness can be a sign you're doing too much or recovering poorly✅ If an athlete misses the conditioning standard—is it the coach or athlete's responsibility?✅ Why pre-prep phases can help coaches accurately predict stage weight and timelines✅ How much cardio can you do in an improvement season before it impacts muscle growth?✅ Why running and other endurance work can interfere with lower-body recovery✅ Peak-week water, sodium and carbohydrate protocols✅ Why aggressively cutting water and sodium can leave an athlete flatter and looking worse✅ How fluid and sodium should change as carbohydrate intake increases✅ Why hydration still matters on show day if you want a great pump✅ Making small adjustments when divisions are delayed or athletes have long gaps between stage appearances✅ A real-world peak-week example showing how carbs, water and sodium were adjusted across the week✅ Why tracking thirst, hydration and even urine colour can help guide show-day decisions 🎧 A practical episode covering muscle growth, contest conditioning, off-season cardio and the finer details of getting peak week right. Disclaimer The information presented is for informational and entertainment purposesonly and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professionaladvice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult yourphysician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition,supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendationsor use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk,and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

  4. Sep 9

    BIKINI VS FITNESS | COACHING STANDARDS | HOW TO START TRACKING FOOD | EP#187

    The boys are finally back together after a month of travel and jump straight into another huge bodybuilding season.After recapping the opening State Shows and some standout athlete performances, the discussion moves into female division criteria, whether Bikini and Fitness are becoming more muscular, training around patellar tendon pain, getting started with nutrition tracking, and what actually separates a great coach from an average one. We cover:✅ Recapping the TAS and SA State Shows and standout athletes from the opening weekend✅ One of the most impressive conditioning and peak-week presentations they've seen in recent years✅ Why NBA is unlikely to introduce a Fit Model division✅ Whether Bikini needs to become more muscular as the standard of natural bodybuilding continues to rise✅ The differences between Bikini, Sports Model and Fitness criteria✅ Why one standout winner doesn't necessarily mean judging criteria have changed✅ How natural Bikini compares with tested and untested IFBB Bikini✅ Why NBA structures the men's running order differently to other federations✅ Whether female Fitness is becoming more muscular✅ Managing patellar tendon pain and why isometric training can be useful✅ Using isometrics to strengthen connective tissue and improve longevity in bodybuilding✅ How the boys first started tracking food and macros before apps made everything easy✅ The simplest way for beginners to start weighing and tracking their food✅ Why you don't need to make nutrition perfect from day one✅ What new athletes should understand when they first start working with a coach✅ Why communication, feedback and trusting your coach are so important✅ What separates a genuinely great coach from someone simply providing a program✅ Why a good coach needs to be invested in the athlete's goals—whether they're a competitor or general-population client 🎧 A wide-ranging episode covering bodybuilding criteria, training longevity, nutrition fundamentals and what great coaching should actually look like. LISTEN Spotify - ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0ex8tkAzDHEBVZVK6Js5AN⁠ FOLLOW PREP COACH PODCAST - https://www.instagram.com/prepcoachpodcast/⁠ Michael Trimboli - https://www.instagram.com/michaeltrimbolifit/⁠ Scott Morrell - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/powerhouse_sc/⁠ Michael Galante - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/coachmg_ont/⁠ Disclaimer The information presented is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition, supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendations or use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk, and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

  5. Jul 29

    READY EARLY OR DIET TO THE END | COACHING STANDARDS | MID-YEAR SEASON SUCCESS | EP#186

    This week the boys recap another huge weekend of natural bodybuilding, celebrate the continued growth of Season B, and answer listener questions on coaching quality, contest prep strategy, natural bodybuilding rules, and what athletes should expect from their coach. We cover:✅ Scotty's birthday celebrations and the WA workshop recap✅ Why Season B has officially established itself as a permanent competition season✅ The continued rise of Australian bodybuilding on the international stage✅ Natural bodybuilding eligibility, previous PED use, HRT, peptides, and GLP-1 medications✅ Whether it's better to reach stage condition early or diet hard right until show day✅ Why maintaining condition with more food often produces a better physique✅ How prep timelines, diet breaks, and recovery influence performance and muscle retention✅ What athletes should expect from a quality coach and why service matters more than price✅ The importance of truly individualised programming, exercise selection, and technique analysis✅ Why competing isn't just about winning—and why every athlete deserves their place on stage✅ Reflecting on their own competitive journeys and why all three hosts are planning a return to the stage 🎧 A great episode covering contest prep strategy, coaching standards, natural bodybuilding, and plenty of behind-the-scenes discussion from another busy competition weekend. LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0ex8tkAzDHEBVZVK6Js5AN FOLLOW PREP COACH PODCAST - https://www.instagram.com/prepcoachpodcast/Michael Trimboli - https://www.instagram.com/michaeltrimbolifit/Scott Morrell - https://www.instagram.com/powerhouse_sc/Michael Galante - https://www.instagram.com/coachmg_ont/ DisclaimerThe information presented is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition, supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendations or use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk, and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

  6. Jul 22

    FEMALE HORMONE HEALTH | BLOOD WORK | TRAINING VOLUME & RECOVERY | EP#185

    This week the boys recap another fantastic weekend of natural bodybuilding before diving into one of the biggest coaching topics in the industry. From female hormone health and interpreting blood work to managing prep through perimenopause, recovery, and training volume, this episode is packed with practical coaching advice for athletes and coaches alike. We cover:✅ Recapping the Sydney Winter Show, standout physiques, and the incredible community atmosphere✅ Celebrating first-time competitors and the supportive culture of natural bodybuilding✅ A special shout-out to an inspiring Gold Coast athlete overcoming an incredible journey to step on stage✅ Why understanding female hormone health is essential for successful contest prep✅ How to interpret blood work correctly and why context matters more than reference ranges✅ Menstrual cycles, ovulation, and why having a period doesn't always mean hormone health is optimal✅ Using blood work to guide prep decisions, recovery, and post-show health✅ Coaching athletes through perimenopause and managing higher life stress✅ Why longer prep timelines, diet breaks, and recovery phases often produce better physiques✅ How to preserve hormone health while still achieving elite levels of conditioning✅ Training volume vs training intensity—and why doing less can often produce more✅ The importance of quality working sets, recovery, and progressive overload for long-term muscle growth 🎧 A must-listen episode for coaches and competitors looking to better understand female physiology, smarter contest prep, recovery, and evidence-based training. LISTEN 🎧Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0ex8tkAzDHEBVZVK6Js5AN FOLLOW 👇PREP COACH PODCAST - https://www.instagram.com/prepcoachpodcast/Michael Trimboli - https://www.instagram.com/michaeltrimbolifit/Scott Morrell - https://www.instagram.com/powerhouse_sc/Michael Galante - https://www.instagram.com/coachmg_ont/ DisclaimerThe information presented is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition, supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendations or use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk, and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

  7. Jul 15

    COACHING STANDARDS | PREP TIMELINES | FASTED CARDIO | SIDE STAGE ENERGY | EP#184

    Back for another episode, the boys open with a quick catch-up from the weekend show before getting straight into bigger coaching conversations around industry standards, prep timelines, cardio, and the small decisions that can make a big difference across a season. This one moves from winter show reflections into practical discussion on what better coaching can look like and how athletes should think about planning, feedback and performance. We cover:✅ Reflections from the first winter show, including crowd energy, athlete interviews and the overall atmosphere on the day✅ Whether federations should play a role in improving coaching standards, and what a minimum level of coach education could look like✅ Why bodybuilding still needs better safeguards around prep quality, planning and athlete care✅ Common prep timeline mistakes, including starting too late, underestimating true stage condition, and not building in enough runway✅ Why pre-prep phases, refeeds and better long-term structure can dramatically improve final conditioning✅ The importance of adjusting based on the look, not just chasing a scale weight target✅ Why building buffers into a prep matters when life stress, sickness, injury or fatigue hit at the wrong time✅ Thoughts on bringing back “Rate My Physique” and using it to assess athletes against judging criteria✅ Why high-energy side stage support can make a real difference to athlete confidence before they walk out✅ Whether baking soda is actually useful for bodybuilding performance, and why the evidence seems more relevant to endurance-style efforts✅ Why fasted cardio can be a practical tool when carbohydrate is better allocated toward training performance later in the day✅ A detailed breakdown of using low-carb cardio to drive endurance adaptations, improve substrate use, and support performance in events like Hyrox and running✅ MG’s obsession with the V squat, and why certain machines suit injury history, confidence and progression better than others 🎧 A big episode on coaching standards, smarter prep timelines, side stage energy, and the finer details of performance-based cardio. LISTEN 🎧Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0ex8tkAzDHEBVZVK6Js5AN FOLLOW 👇PREP COACH PODCAST - https://www.instagram.com/prepcoachpodcast/Michael Trimboli - https://www.instagram.com/michaeltrimbolifit/Scott Morrell - https://www.instagram.com/powerhouse_sc/Michael Galante - https://www.instagram.com/coachmg_ont/ DisclaimerThe information presented is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition, supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendations or use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk, and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

  8. Jul 8

    NATURAL SHOW STANDARDS | ANTI-INFLAMMS | BALI SHOW PREP | POSING WORKSHOPS | EP#183

    The boys are back and straight into bodybuilding chat, opening with training in freezing Melbourne conditions before moving into injury recovery, natural show standards, and practical competitor advice. From Chloe’s return after a long battle with nerve pain, to a detailed breakdown of the Melbourne NPC Naturals, this one blends athlete perspective with useful coaching takeaways for anyone preparing to compete. We cover:✅ Chloe’s return to stage after months of back pain, nerve compression, rehab and uncertainty✅ Why her latest look was one of her most balanced physiques yet✅ A full recap of the Melbourne NPC Naturals and the overall quality of the line-ups✅ Thoughts on bikini and fit model standards in a natural federation, and whether the rewarded look appears slightly dialled back in condition and muscle✅ Why one show isn’t enough to fully define a federation standard, and why Nationals will give a clearer picture✅ Feedback from Kaitlyn’s showing, including conditioning, fullness, tan and posing adjustments✅ Whether anti-inflammatories can blunt hypertrophy and why they shouldn’t be used casually just to avoid soreness✅ Exercises recently added back into training, including close-grip barbell pressing, Bulgarians and SLDL variations✅ What to pack for an overseas show like Bali, including rice flour, protein, scales, hydration products and backup medication✅ Why posing workshops are such an important part of prep, especially for confidence, stage simulation and learning to present under pressure✅ Upcoming posing workshops and why the winter season deserves more support from competitors and spectators alike. 🎧 Melbourne show standards, injury comeback stories, anti-inflammatories, Bali prep tips, and why posing workshops matter more than most athletes realise. LISTEN 🎧 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0ex8tkAzDHEBVZVK6Js5AN FOLLOW 👇 PREP COACH PODCAST - https://www.instagram.com/prepcoachpodcast/ Michael Trimboli - https://www.instagram.com/michaeltrimbolifit/ Scott Morrell - https://www.instagram.com/powerhouse_sc/ Michael Galante - https://www.instagram.com/coachmg_ont/ Disclaimer The information presented is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease or condition. Consult your physician or health care practitioner before beginning any nutrition, supplementation or exercise program. Anyone on this podcast does not assume any liability for the information provided. Any application of the recommendations or use of the information contained herein is at your discretion and sole risk, and you specifically waive any right to make any claim against anyone on this podcast.

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Giving you the Best Knowledge and Tools that you can Practically Apply to become a better Competitor and Coach 🏆 🎙Hosted by Michael Trimboli, Scott Morrell, & Michael Galante. #prepcoachpodcast

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