The Masters Athlete Survival Guide

John Katalinas and Scott Fike
  • 4.7 (6)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

We explore thriving as an athlete after 40. Each episode, we’ll dive into tips, hacks, and inspiring stories from seasoned athletes and our personal experience. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive pro, this podcast is your playbook for staying fit, strong, and motivated

  1. 14H AGO

    How We Use YouTube To Lift Better, Hurt Less, And Stay In The Game

    Send us a text We riff on how YouTube became our most useful training partner and where it can lead you astray. From fixing a good-morning deadlift to building finger strength and dialing recovery, we share channels worth your time and the BS meter every masters athlete needs. • using video to improve deadlift setup and bar path • climbers’ methods for finger and tendon strength • warm-up volume for longevity and pain control • simple hydration and electrolyte habits • spotting fake weights and risky advice • tailoring popular programs to masters needs • caffeine strategy without the crash • building a personal system from curated channels If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    56 min

  2. DEC 5

    Adriane Wilson On Mobility, Masters Strength, and Celebrating the Warrior Games

    Send us a text Adriane Wilson joins us to show how daily mobility, honest intensity, and smart recovery keep a world-class thrower competitive as a masters athlete. We unpack her one-hour training template, nutrition resets, and the lessons she brings from coaching the Warrior Games. • Adrian’s path from collegiate throws to Highland Games world titles • Why twenty minutes of mobility anchors a one-hour session • Simple warm-up primers that raise heart rate and pattern the lift • Managing a “spicy” hip with blocks, variations and RPE • Season planning for strength early, speed late • Compression, massage, sleep and hydration as recovery pillars • Food triggers, alcohol and honest macro tracking • Underfueling risks for masters athletes • Coaching adaptive athletes and seated throws at Warrior Games • How to get involved with adaptive sport and resources If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    54 min

  3. NOV 21

    Travel To Compete: Community, Grit, And Growth After 40

    Send us a text We drive home from a strongman meet and dig into why traveling to compete after 40 sharpens focus, grows community, and raises your game. Real stories of grit, the difference culture makes, and how to handle costs, logistics, and recovery without losing the joy. • why travel builds sharper focus and intent • meeting new athletes who push different gears • lessons from a truck pull and teen tenacity • sharing technique across strength sports • culture, charity, and choosing the right meet • costs, packing lists, and recovery on the road • training deadlines that drive consistency • sportsmanship over showboating • building partnerships and long-term community If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters to Athlete Survival Guide Now get off our lawn, you damn kids @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    36 min

  4. NOV 7

    Redefine Greatness: Let Longevity Set The Frame And PRs Fuel The Journey

    Send us a text We weigh the tradeoffs between chasing lifetime PRs and training to stay strong for decades, then land on a simple rule: let longevity set the frame and let smart, contextual PRs keep you hungry. Strain becomes the guide—enough challenge to adapt, not enough to break. • setting longevity as the framework and performance as fuel • defining “strain” as appropriate challenge across sports and life • redefining PRs by age, bodyweight, and context • building capacity: gas tank, bone density, joint resilience • warm-ups, recovery, sunlight, nutrition as longevity levers • listening to your body and auto-regulating effort • competing with yourself rather than chasing others • planning seasons, stacking small wins, finding a tribe • using coaching and accountability to sustain habits If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review. To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    42 min

  5. OCT 23

    The Mind-Muscle Connection: Balancing Medical Science with Strength Training with Dr. Erik Jensen

    Send us a text Dr. Erik Jensen bridges the gap between medical science and strength training wisdom, sharing insights from his dual perspective as an anesthesiologist and competitive strongman at age 55. • Trained in Buffalo and worked at Erie County Medical Center as an anesthesiologist for decades • Found weightlifting during college, used it as stress relief during medical residency  • Competed in powerlifting before transitioning to strongman competition • Weighs under 200 pounds but competes successfully against much heavier athletes • Set a goal to own the world record in deadlift for the over-80 age class • The mental health benefits of intensive training: "The harder I beat my body, the quieter the voices in my head became" • How strongman training naturally incorporates the conjugate method through implement variety • Why physicians typically have poor knowledge of strength training and exercise science • The importance of training smarter but not necessarily easier as we age • Why protein supplementation is overhyped compared to actual resistance training • Effective supplements with scientific backing: creatine, caffeine, and occasionally beta-alanine • Finding enjoyable activities is crucial for long-term exercise adherence • The social aspect of training becomes increasingly important as we age • Exercise should involve some degree of "strain" to activate physiological mechanisms Find something you enjoy that gets you moving. Medical evidence clearly shows that movement reduces hip fractures, spine fractures, stroke and heart disease rates – and the more movement, the better the outcomes. @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    1h 21m

  6. OCT 9

    Valkyrie Strength: The Age-Defying Secret: Intensity Over Volume

    Send us a text We chat with Denny Labresh, founder of Valkyrie Strength Team, about thriving in strength sports after 40 and his journey from basketball player to successful strongman competitor and coach. • Denny shares how he transitioned from basketball to strongman in his late 20s and is now hitting lifetime PRs at age 41 • The evolution of strongman from showcasing athletes from other sports to becoming its own codified discipline with specialized athletes • Why recovery becomes the most critical factor for masters athletes compared to younger competitors • Training philosophy changes for masters: intense but less frequent training (3 days/week) versus high volume for younger athletes • The importance of weighted carries like sandbags and husafell stones for developing functional strength for all masters athletes • How Valkyrie Strength Club developed from making equipment during the pandemic to providing high-quality, affordable strongman gear • Denny's coaching approach focuses on teaching independence and progression rather than creating dependency • Online coaching benefits: more economical, provides accountability while promoting independence • Key advice for masters athletes: "Enjoy the process" and remember why you fell in love with the sport Find Denny and Valkyrie Strength at valkyriestrengthclub on Instagram or valkyriestrengthclub.ca online. @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    1h 3m

  7. SEP 25

    Strength for a Cause: The Love Like Ben Memorial Strongman Event

    Send us a text Scott Fike shares the inspiring story behind the Love Like Ben Foundation and its annual strongman charity event honoring his son's memory while raising funds to help children afford sports participation. What began as a heartfelt tribute has grown into a thriving community event raising over $17,000 this year to provide equipment, memberships, and tuition assistance to young athletes in need. • Detailed recap of the four main competition events: Circus Dumbbell, Sandbag Over Bar, Seated Arm Over Arm Sled Pull, and Hummer Tire Deadlift • The event's accessible approach allowing athletes across nine divisions to participate • Incredible community support from sponsors like Serious Steel Fitness and Valkyrie Strength • Beautiful custom metal awards created by Wicked Welding and Fabrication • Pain Face Photography's professional documentation of the event • The Benjamin Fike Memorial Award given to individuals embodying Ben's spirit of making people smile • This year's successful fundraising total of $17,000 gross, with approximately $14,000 going directly to the foundation Visit lovelikeben9.com to learn more about the foundation, donate, or apply for a grant if you know a young athlete who needs financial assistance to participate in sports. @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    1h 2m

  8. SEP 10

    What If Everything You Know About Healing Is Wrong?

    Send us a text Dr. B, a chiropractor specializing in Active Release Technique (ART), shares revolutionary perspectives on healing, mitochondrial health, and optimizing athletic performance after 40 through understanding the body's electrical systems. • Active Release Technique (ART) targets "stuck" soft tissues by shortening muscles, applying pressure, and having patients actively move through treatment • Red light therapy creates free electrons in the body through interaction with cytochrome c oxidase, supporting mitochondrial health without extra calories • Seasonal eating matters because out-of-season foods create a "circadian mismatch" in our bodies • Morning sunlight entering the eyes triggers production of dopamine and other neurotransmitters critical for muscle function and recovery • DHA from seafood (especially oysters) helps create electrical currents in the body essential for healing • Blue light, 5G networks, and modern technologies can cause calcium efflux from cells, creating voltage drops • Getting outside at sunrise is crucial as the first frequencies of light unlock iron to properly carry oxygen • Vitamin D supplements cannot replace the complex biological processes triggered by natural sunlight • Mitochondrial health may be more important than muscle mass for longevity in athletes over 40 If you're dealing with persistent injuries or performance plateaus, consider exploring Active Release Technique and Dr. B's approach to light, nutrition, and electromagnetic sensitivity as complementary pathways to conventional treatment. @masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG New episodes come out every other Thursday!

    1h 2m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

We explore thriving as an athlete after 40. Each episode, we’ll dive into tips, hacks, and inspiring stories from seasoned athletes and our personal experience. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive pro, this podcast is your playbook for staying fit, strong, and motivated

Information

  • Creator
    John Katalinas and Scott Fike
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Masters Athlete Survival Guide
  • Show Website
    The Masters Athlete Survival Guide