Snatch Chat

Connor Oates
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  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Snatch Chat is the podcast for Olympic lifters who love throwing weight overhead and want to understand the sport without the fluff or technical waffle. No geeky coach talk, just clear, simple answers to real questions lifters ask. Each week covers community Q&A plus special guests sharing why they lift and what the sport means to them. Built to make weightlifting fun, relatable, and accessible, bringing the raw coolness of the sport to the forefront. Welcome to Snatch Chat.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 37: Why Your Olympic Lifts Have Stalled (And How to Actually Fix It)

    In episode 37 of the Snatch Chat podcast, Coach Oates breaks down why your lifts have stalled and exactly how to fix it, answering 10 real questions on Olympic weightlifting technique, programming, mindset and recovery. If your snatch, clean or jerk has plateaued, this one is packed with fixes you can action in your next session. In this episode we cover: why you keep pressing out on heavy snatches and how to build a rock-solid overhead position with pauses and snatch balances; what to do when two coaches give you contradictory first pull advice (aggressive vs patient) and how to know which cue is right for you; why your wrists ache after every clean session and how to fix your grip before it becomes an injury; the single most valuable thing to do if you train alone at a commercial gym with no weightlifting community; how to eat on heavy training days versus recovery days without overcomplicating your nutrition; how to rebuild your split jerk stance when the landing feels unstable; how poor sleep and a young child affect your lifting, and how to train smart around it; the real difference between a lifter who improves every month and one who stalls for a year; how often to film your lifts and what to actually look for; and when you finally cross from beginner to intermediate. The truth is, most plateaus are not about working harder. They are about finding the minimal effective dose, training smarter, and becoming weightlifting savvy. Join the free OPTILIFT Skool community and grab the Weightlifting Toolbox to pinpoint exactly what is holding your lifts back. https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/about

  2. Aug 9

    The Weightlifting Mistakes You Don't Even Know You're Making | Snatch Chat 36

    Episode 36 is a rapid fire Q&A. Coach Oates answers 10 questions from clients and the community: building the confidence to drop under the snatch, stopping your hips shooting up out of the front squat and clean, when to actually start using a belt, why chasing first pull speed wrecks your bar path, fixing low elbows in the front rack, and the real reason technically solid lifters stop progressing. The theme running through it all is finding the root cause a coach would spot in seconds, instead of guessing your way through YouTube for years. Ready to stop guessing? ▶ Grab 21IN21, my top 21 free tips to pinpoint and fix your weak spots: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/9RRTUTvmFcmqW2ZAbKZt ▶ Try the OptiPass, 7 days of free coaching this August where I find exactly what is holding you back and build your plan: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/M3qgjDWJlCVcSL8m5w9B ▶ Join the free OPTILIFT Performance Lab community for the Weightlifting Manual, Mobility Manual and Toolbox: https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/about

  3. Aug 2

    How To Feel Stable Overhead In The Snatch And Drop Under The Bar Faster | Snatch Chat Ep 35

    In episode 35 of Snatch Chat we fix exactly that, plus the mistake that is stopping you getting under the bar fast enough.This one is loaded. We cover: How to catch the snatch stable and confident overheadWhy speed lives UNDER the bar, not on the way up The truth about hitting a strength "ceiling"What to do when training goes flat (push or back off?)The most underrated movement for a bigger snatchWhy you fall apart the moment someone films you When you are actually ready to compete (stop waiting for numbers)Plus the Commonwealth Games, the press out rule, and where OptiLift goes next If you have been telling yourself you will compete "once I hit X kilos," this episode is your sign to stop waiting. Join the free OptiLift community (linked below) for the drills, breakdowns and resources to actually get better. Like, subscribe and share to bring more people into weightlifting. That is the goal. https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/about

  4. Jul 26

    Episode 34: Don't Buy Weightlifting Shoes Yet. Do This Instead!

    Everyone tells you weightlifting shoes are essential. I'd tell you to keep your £200 in your pocket for now, and I'll explain exactly what to wear instead.In episode 34 I answer nine listener questions, including why your rear leg in the split jerk probably shouldn't be straight, the one thing self coached lifters always get wrong, why you should never train on a competition bar, and what to actually write in your training diary.Free resources...The Weightlifting Toolbox and the OPTILIFT Blueprint, are inside the free OPTILIFT Performance Lab community. Link below.https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/aboutBull Ring Bull Challenge fundraiser, 1 August. Donation link below.https://gofund.me/c3798ad4bRefine technique. Define strength.

  5. Jul 19

    Episode 33: Weak or Just Bad Technique? Brutal Answers to Your Weightlifting Questions

    Are you actually weak, or is your technique holding back your snatch and clean and jerk? In episode 33 of the Snatch Chat Podcast, Coach Oates answers your Olympic weightlifting questions: the truth about front squat to clean ratios, how to fix an unbalanced split jerk, what a proper peaking block looks like before a competition, why you press out under competition pressure but never in training, how to structure a 4 day training week, managing pre competition nerves and anxiety, and how to rebuild confidence after bombing out. Plus everything you need to know about the Bull Ring Bull Challenge on August 1st: a 6.5 tonne fundraising lift at OPTILIFT Performance Lab in Digbeth, Birmingham, raising money for youth weightlifting, subsidised coaching for people struggling with mental health, and funded coaching qualifications. Donate to the fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/optilift-performance-lab-community-fundraiserJoin the free community for Technique Fridays: https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/aboutFollow: @coach.oates and @optilift.performancelab Olympic Weightlifting | Snatch | Clean and Jerk | Weightlifting Technique | Competition Prep | Birmingham Weightlifting

  6. Jul 12

    You Can Power Snatch It, So Why Can't You Squat Snatch It? | Weightlifting Q&A | Snatch Chat Ep 32

    In Episode 32 of Snatch Chat, Coach Oates breaks down the technique, programming, injury and mindset questions that come up again and again on the platform. In this episode: Why you can hit a power snatch but crash forward the moment you try to squat snatch it, and the overhead squat assessment that reveals the real problem. The rule for knowing when to add weight to the bar and when to stay put. Why your feet land in a different position every clean rep and the no feet clean drill that fixes it. When a recurring wrist niggle in the jerk stops being something to train around and becomes a physio job. How to handle a jump in training volume without your body falling apart by week 3. Getting your momentum back after illness without rushing it. The single most important lifestyle change when sleep is out of your control. And the honest conversation to have with your coach when you feel stuck, plus what a good coach should say back. Resources mentioned:https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/about Got a question you want answered on a future episode? Drop it in the free OPTILIFT Performance Lab community.Refine technique. Define strength.

  7. Jul 5

    Fix Your Clean, Jerk Press Outs and Technique That Falls Apart Under Pressure | Snatch Chat Ep 31

    Your clean looks fine until the bar hits your hips, then everything falls apart. Sound familiar? In episode 31 of Snatch Chat, Coach Connor answers 10 listener questions on technique, mindset and programming for Olympic weightlifting, including: Why your clean crashes forward at the hips and the high hang fixWhy your technique falls apart on camera or in competitionPause work: where to pause, how long and at what percentageFixing a collapsing snatch catch when strength isn't the problemHow to programme around shift work and irregular schedulesJerk press outs and where to actually start fixing themWhat to do when your training partner is progressing faster than youHow to keep improving with no coach near you Got a question for episode 32? Drop it in the comments. Join the free OPTILIFT Performance Lab community for technique resources and Feedback Friday, where Connor analyses your lifts every week:https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/about

  8. Jun 28

    Episode 30: Building a Weightlifting Community and Improving Your Olympic Lifts

    In this episode of Snatch Chat, Coach Oates shares why he is building a weightlifting community and breaking down the technical cues that actually move the needle on your snatch and clean and jerk.We get into why technical consistency beats chasing heavier numbers, how to slow down and feel the bar close to your body, and the one flaw you should prioritise before anything else.Whether you are a total beginner picking up the barbell for the first time, a CrossFitter trying to clean up your lifts, or an everyday lifter stuck on a plateau, this one is packed with practical takeaways you can use in your next session.What we cover:How to build a weightlifting community that keeps people coming backThe technical cues that fix the most common Olympic lifting faultsGetting started in weightlifting and the kit that actually mattersBalancing CrossFit and dedicated weightliftingFuelling early morning training sessionsUsing resource packs to prep for your first competitionBreaking through training plateausChapters:00:00 Building a Weightlifting Community07:18 Technical Insights on Olympic Lifting13:36 Getting Started in Weightlifting17:13 Balancing CrossFit and Weightlifting21:16 Nutrition for Morning Training23:09 Preparing for Competition27:14 Overcoming Training PlateausResources mentioned:OPTILIFT Performance Lab - https://www.skool.com/optilift-performance-lab-3529/aboutThe free Weightlifting Checklist community resource - https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/5dOBCWIfxSJRk2nsxCqWIf you got value from this episode, subscribe for a new one every Saturday and drop your questions in the comments. We read them on the show.

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About

Snatch Chat is the podcast for Olympic lifters who love throwing weight overhead and want to understand the sport without the fluff or technical waffle. No geeky coach talk, just clear, simple answers to real questions lifters ask. Each week covers community Q&A plus special guests sharing why they lift and what the sport means to them. Built to make weightlifting fun, relatable, and accessible, bringing the raw coolness of the sport to the forefront. Welcome to Snatch Chat.

Information

  • Creator
    Connor Oates
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Connor Oates
  • Show Website
    Snatch Chat