Athletic Performance Podcast

Ryan Patrick
  • 3.8 (6)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Athletic Performance Podcast: we discuss all things performance-related, with a focus on  pushing the boundaries of speed, power, and strength.

  1. Built to Last: Confidence, Creativity, and Durability in Athletic Development w/ Erica Mulholland Ep 55

    OCT 27

    Built to Last: Confidence, Creativity, and Durability in Athletic Development w/ Erica Mulholland Ep 55

    What separates athletes who last from those who burn out?  In this episode, Coach Ryan Patrick sits down with strength coach and former D1 soccer standout Erica Mulholland to unpack the real D1 Durability Formula. They dive into the psychology and physiology of building durable and resilient athletes. They explore how confidence, creativity, and consistent exposure build athletes who can handle the demands of elite sport.  From ACL recovery realities to youth sport specialization, this conversation bridges science and coaching experience to help parents, coaches, and athletes understand what truly drives long-term performance. Here's what we tackle: The role of free play and creativity in developing movement confidenceHow to prevent burnout and overuse injuries in youth athletesWhy strength training is the foundation of athletic durabilityWhat "never go to zero" means for in-season trainingHow to balance intensity, recovery, and joy for sustainable performance🎧  Watch or listen to the full episode to learn how to build athletes who are not just strong, but built to last. Guest:  Erica Mulholland | Strength & Conditioning Coach | Former Johns Hopkins All-American | ACL Prevention Specialist  📸 Instagram | Website | Book Connect with Ryan:  Instagram → @coachryanpatrick ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Introduction: What is the D1 Durability Formula?  2:45 – Erica’s journey from D1 soccer to strength coach  6:10 – Why today’s youth athletes lack confidence  10:25 – The role of play and creativity in development  14:40 – The lie of early specialization  19:25 – How fear and comparison kill progress  23:05 – ACL injury realities and return-to-play mistakes  27:30 – Why "cleared" doesn’t mean "ready"  32:15 – Managing preseason spikes and overtraining  36:50 – What strength training really does for durability  41:20 – "Never go to zero" and the truth about in-season training  45:15 – Balancing joy, discipline, and longevity  49:30 – How to pick the right coach and program  54:10 – Final thoughts on building athletes who last

    1h 9m
  2. Dunks on Demand: The Physics of Flight w/ Dr. Sam Liu

    OCT 20

    Dunks on Demand: The Physics of Flight w/ Dr. Sam Liu

    In this episode, Coach Ryan Patrick sits down with Dr. Sam Liu, biomechanist, researcher, and movement specialist with the Miami Marlins organization, to break down the true physics behind jumping, dunking, and speed. They dive into what most coaches misunderstand about impulse, force, and timing — and how understanding the mechanical objective of movement changes everything. From countermovement jumps to approach takeoffs, Sam translates complex biomechanics into simple, actionable concepts every coach and athlete can apply. If you’ve ever looked at a force plate trace or a highlight dunk and wondered what’s really happening there, this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Dunks, data, and the science of flight 04:25 – The simple physics behind jumping higher 08:45 – Why more approach speed isn’t always better 12:10 – Force × Time: What coaches get wrong about impulse 17:00 – The “Mechanical Objectives” framework explained 21:40 – How to use biomechanics without overcomplicating training 28:15 – What elite jumpers really do differently 33:50 – Jumping with vs. without a ball: The overlooked factor 39:10 – Translating jump mechanics to pitching and sprinting 47:15 – Absorbing force vs. managing momentum 52:40 – What Sam’s research is revealing about human performance 57:30 – Final thoughts: curiosity, humility, and the pursuit of better coaching 🔗 Links & Resources Follow Dr. Sam Liu on Instagram Dr. Liu’s research publications:  Connect with Coach Ryan Patrick:  Key Takeaways ✅ What great jumpers do with force ✅ Mechanical objectives simplify coaching by focusing on outcomes, not aesthetics. ✅ The biggest limiter to jump height  ✅ Force plates are tools → interpretation > data. ✅ The principles that make a better jumper also make a better pitcher or sprinter.

    1h 5m
  3. Fabian Salazar’s Speed Hack: Ditch Overtraining for Explosive Gains - Ep 53

    OCT 6

    Fabian Salazar’s Speed Hack: Ditch Overtraining for Explosive Gains - Ep 53

    In this episode of the Athletic Performance Podcast, host Ryan Patrick dives deep with Fabian Salazar, a veteran trainer with 15 years in the game, co-founder of Fit Factor in Houston, and a master of soccer-specific speed and strength development. Fabian shares his origin story from Bally Total Fitness to building a brick-and-mortar gym with his brother, emphasizing mindset shifts, coordination over max effort, and the power of in-person coaching.  We explore common training pitfalls, balancing speed work with recovery, and the psychological edge for young athletes. Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, Fabian's insights on slowing down, using video feedback, and long-term commitment will reshape how you approach performance. Relevant Links: Fabian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabian_salazarcpt/  Fit Factor Gym: https://www.instagram.com/fit_factor_houston/ Athlete Accelerator Program: https://athlete-accelerator.com/ Connect with Ryan: https://www.instagram.com/coachryanpatrick/ Chapters: [00:00:00] Intro and Fabian's origin story [00:06:00] Biggest mistakes in soccer speed training [00:16:30] High-leverage strength moves for athletes [00:24:30] Mindset shifts and using tech in coaching [00:32:00] In-person vs. online coaching realities [00:45:45] Individual differences in acceleration [00:51:30] Balancing family, business, and chaos [00:58:00] Advice for young coaches [01:02:00] Microdosing training experiments [01:07:00] What's next: Athlete Accelerator program

    1h 10m
  4. Your Youth Athlete is NOT Elite w/ Jeremy Frisch Ep 52

    SEP 29

    Your Youth Athlete is NOT Elite w/ Jeremy Frisch Ep 52

    Every parent wants their kid to succeed, but the hard truth is this: there are no elite 10-year-olds. In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Frisch, one of the most respected voices in youth athletic development, to talk about early specialization, missing foundations, and how to actually set kids up for long-term success. We cover everything from tummy time and crawling, to why year-round sports are burning kids out, to the creative ways Jeremy designs training that looks like play but builds athletic monsters. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this conversation will change how you see youth sports. Physical Education: Building the Foundation Children Moving: A Reflective Approach to Teaching Physical Education Follow Jeremy Instagram | X Follow me: Instagram | PeakFAST on IG

    1h 2m
  5. Inside Cal Poly's Weight Room: Leadership & Legacy with Sara MacKenzie Ep 51

    SEP 22

    Inside Cal Poly's Weight Room: Leadership & Legacy with Sara MacKenzie Ep 51

    In this episode of the Athletic Performance Podcast, Coach Ryan Patrick sits down with Sara MacKenzie, Director of Strength & Conditioning at Cal Poly. Sara shares her journey from a $0/hour intern at Arizona State to running a full department at Cal Poly, the challenges of coaching 500+ athletes solo, and how parenting reshaped her coaching philosophy. We cover everything from building systems under resource constraints to balancing toughness and empathy in the weight room — and why durability, not numbers, is the ultimate metric of success. 📌 What You’ll Learn How Sara broke into strength & conditioning when few women had a seat at the tableWhy her Arizona State internship became the turning point in her careerThe systems she uses to manage programming for hundreds of athletesHow COVID forced Cal Poly into a “wedding tent weight room”Balancing parenthood, leadership, and athlete development without burning outWhy Sara chose legacy and community over chasing jobs across the country🔗 Links & Resources Cal Poly AthleticsFollow me: Ryan Patrick on IG

    1h 1m
  6. Feet, Ankles, and the Rhythm of Speed with Ryan Hopkins Ep 50

    SEP 15

    Feet, Ankles, and the Rhythm of Speed with Ryan Hopkins Ep 50

    Feet, Ankles, and the Rhythm of Speed with Ryan Hopkins | Athletic Performance Podcast Ep. 50 What if the real key to speed has nothing to do with the weight room...and everything to do with your feet, ankles, and rhythm? In this episode, Coach Ryan Patrick sits down with Ryan Hopkins (Soho Strength Lab, NYC) to break down the overlooked foundations of sprinting and athletic speed. We dive into cadence, coordination, and why too many coaches slow athletes down instead of letting them chase outputs. This conversation is packed with practical takeaways for coaches, athletes, and parents who want to understand what really drives speed on the field. What You’ll Learn • Why most athletes are leaking performance through their feet and ankles. • The critical role of rhythm (4+ steps per second) in top-end speed. • How to balance technical drills with letting athletes “run wild.” • The problem with always adding more force in S&C. • Training strategies that actually transfer to game speed. Chapters 00:00 – Rhythm and cadence: the heartbeat of speed 01:15 – Ryan Hopkins’ journey: from Equinox to Soho Strength Lab 05:00 – Untapped opportunities in youth development 07:00 – The foot & ankle problem (and how to fix it) 12:00 – Training progress: why it takes 1–2 years, not 4 weeks 16:00 – Drills vs. outputs: what really drives speed 22:00 – Session structure: blending rhythm, ranges, and pushes 29:00 – Common errors: cadence, hip separation, and over-striding 36:00 – Teaching range of motion and coordination 39:00 – What’s overvalued: slowing things down to make athletes “fast” 42:00 – Combine prep: retuning Ferraris, not building them 48:00 – Rethinking resisted sprints & horizontal force 50:00 – Why static starts are overrated 53:00 – Change of direction and deception: sport speed vs straight-line speed 🔗 Resources & Links Soho Strength Lab Comprehensive Calf Force Profiling – Dylan Carmody & Andy McDonald Follow Ryan Hopkins on Instagram → @sslryan Connect with Ryan Patrick → @coachryanpatrick Join the Conversation If you’re a coach, parent, or athlete serious about speed, drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share so we can keep bringing you world-class conversations with performance experts.

    1h 12m
  7. From Lab to Podium: Turning Sports Tech Into Game-Day Results w/ Yassir Kahook Ep 49

    SEP 1

    From Lab to Podium: Turning Sports Tech Into Game-Day Results w/ Yassir Kahook Ep 49

    In this episode, Coach Ryan Patrick sits down with Yassir Kahook, Sports Science Coordinator and Strength Coach at Cressey Sports Performance Florida. Yassir pulls back the curtain on how CSP integrates force plates, Proteus Motion, and the 1080 Sprint into athlete development—from pro baseball players to youth athletes. You’ll learn: The key force plate metrics that matter (and the ones that don’t).Why the shape of the force-time curve may be more valuable than jump height.How force plates reveal athlete readiness and fatigue beyond the surface.Practical testing insights for high school, college, and pro athletes.How sports science connects to on-field performance like sprinting, cutting, and throwing velocity.Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or just a performance nerd, this episode will help you separate the signal from the noise in sports tech—and apply data where it counts most. 📍 Follow Yassir on Instagram: @ykahook 📍 Read his Substack: Performance Science

    50 min
  8. From Research to Real World: Testing & Training Athletes for Elite Performance w/ Paul Comfort Ep 48

    AUG 25

    From Research to Real World: Testing & Training Athletes for Elite Performance w/ Paul Comfort Ep 48

    Episode Summary In this episode of the Athletic Performance Podcast, Coach Ryan Patrick sits down with Professor Paul Comfort—author, researcher, and one of the leading voices in strength & conditioning science. They unpack the real-world application of force plate testing, the myths around strength thresholds, and how to make smarter programming decisions. ✅ When and how to introduce isometric testing for youth athletes ✅ The truth about “how strong is strong enough” ✅ Why jump ratios (RSI, DSI, EUR) can mislead coaches ✅ Programming lessons from rugby, soccer, and pro athletes ✅ Why periodization is a blueprint, not a rigid script Links & Resources Connect with Coach Ryan Patrick Follow Professor Paul Comfort - X | Research GateSubscribe on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / YouTube

    1h 12m
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Ratings & Reviews

3.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Athletic Performance Podcast: we discuss all things performance-related, with a focus on  pushing the boundaries of speed, power, and strength.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Patrick
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Athletic Performance Podcast
  • Show Website
    Athletic Performance Podcast