Unbranded with Nick Ridpath

Nick Ridpath
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Fitness

Unbranded with Nick Ridpath is a podcast about having real conversations with real coaches about training and performance. Nick works with general population clients, busy high-achieving professionals, and collegiate and professional athletes — D1, NFL, UFC — and shares the same evidence-based principles he uses with them, applied for coaches and people who take their training seriously. Practical insights that work, without the fluff.

  1. 1d ago

    E31: Stop Blaming Your Ankle Mobility for Your Ugly Squats

    This conversation details Nick going solo again — a podcast-numbers scare, a shout-out to the YouTube channel closing in on 1,000 subscribers, and a rant on the Instagram comment section "experts" who argue confidently about topics they don't train in. He uses that to break down why "stability" has become a buzzword — and where base of support, load, and skill actually do change how stable you are — plus where AI is genuinely useful for a coaching business (organizing your schedule, emails, and content ideas) and where it's a trap (writing your actual content for you). From there it's a full teaching segment built around real client questions: why a client who supposedly "lacks ankle mobility" almost never actually has an ankle problem, how bar position and center of mass change what it takes to hit squat depth, and how to progress or regress a Bulgarian split squat when someone can't stabilize on one leg. He closes with shin splints — why it's a load-management problem before it's ever a mobility one. https://www.instagram.com/nickridpath_/ Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Join the newsletter: https://www.unbranded-performance.com/newsletter Pre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-call Advisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Spoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E31: Stop Blaming Your Ankle Mobility for Your Ugly Squats

  2. Sep 7

    E30: Quality Over Quantity

    $85 bag of coffee beans, a bring-your-own-seatbelt gym rant, and why your posture probably isn't the problem you think it is. He opens with a London recap (Prescript seminar, a cursed British Airways flight, and what teaching a room full of students still teaches him) and a quick AI-in-coaching update after testing the new ChatGPT model. Then it's into the meat of the episode: a physics-class analogy (scalar vs. vector) for why training quality matters more than the numbers in your logbook, how to actually calibrate proximity to failure instead of just guessing, and why novice vs. high-effort-low-quality clients need completely different approaches. From there, Nick tears into a guy who brought his own seatbelt to strap into a seated hamstring curl — and uses it to explain why machines aren't "non-functional" and what internal stability actually means. He breaks down the torque physics behind the blood-pressure-cuff trend, calls out the "fragileista" corrective-exercise crowd that turns normal posture into a manufactured pathology, fact-checks a YouTube comment claiming you should always depress your scapula, and explains why "weak low traps / dominant upper traps" and classic upper-cross-syndrome framing oversimplify what's actually a motor-control and variability issue. No guest this week — just Nick, unscripted, working through a physics-class analogy and a full mailbag of coaching pet peeves. Timestamp markers ~00:00 — Coffee snobbery, an $85 bag of beans, and why he's not sweating AI replacing coaches (yet)~07:09 — London/Prescript recap: a cursed flight and what teaching an L3 seminar still teaches him~11:05 — Scalar vs. vector: the physics analogy for why training quality beats chasing numbers~22:19 — The guy who brought his own seatbelt to the gym — and why isolation machines aren't the problem~28:10 — The "fragileista" PT trend, debunking a YouTube comment on scapular depression, and why upper cross syndrome oversimplifies posture https://www.instagram.com/nickridpath_/ Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Pre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-call Advisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Spoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E30: Quality Over Quantity

  3. Aug 31

    E29: AI Hype, Glute-Tie-In Myths, and Free Weights vs. Machines: Solo Q&A

    Back solo again, this time gearing up for a trip to London for a Prescript seminar. Opening with why he still travels to learn six years into his career, even as an experienced coach. From there it's rant, then Q&A: why he doesn't overthink how he sounds on the mic, why "get rich" marketing aimed at coaches misses the point, why postural assessments and the "glute-hamstring tie-in" are mostly pseudoscience, and where AI is actually useful in a coaching business (and where it very much isn't). Then it's into the mailbag: when to use free weights vs. cables vs. machines and why, how to fix poor lat engagement on hinge patterns, what day one with a new 50+, out-of-shape client should actually look like, the best cues and constraints for clients who struggle with rows and pulls, his favorite and least favorite parts of being a trainer, and simple, practical nutrition and meal-timing strategies for general population clients. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on Spotify or wherever you listen, and share it with a friend — it helps a ton. https://www.instagram.com/nickridpath_/ Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Pre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-call Advisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Spoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E29: AI Hype, Glute-Tie-In Myths, and Free Weights vs. Machines: Solo Q&A

  4. Aug 24

    E28: Dr. Dwayne Jackson on Gut Health, GLP-1s, and the Muscle-Building Myths That Won't Die

    Nick sits down with Dr. Dwayne Jackson, a PhD in exercise physiology, former pro motocross racer, and former bodybuilder, for a wide-ranging, no-filter conversation. They start with Dwayne's path from pro motocross and Bombardier Sea-Doo racing into bodybuilding and academia, then get into why building muscle was never really about a big caloric surplus, how bodybuilding's drug culture has shifted since the 90s, and why open-class bodybuilders are getting sick at a higher rate than classic physique guys. From there it's a deep dive into coaching. They cover the #1 mistake trainers make with weight-loss clients (nutrient-poor, fiber-poor "macro dense" diets that wreck gut health), how driving calories too low blunts hunger and satiety hormones and triggers RED-S, and what "food noise" actually is neurologically. Dwayne breaks down what the research says about GLP-1 drugs (appetite, addiction pathways, comparisons to bariatric surgery) and the specific dietary groundwork coaches need before putting a client on one. They close on blood work most doctors don't order by default (ApoB, free T3, SHBG, hsCRP), fixing blood pressure through stress and movement rather than meds, what "good" gut health actually looks like, and why fiber and probiotic marketing hype is mostly noise. Dr. Dwayne Jackson holds a PhD in exercise physiology, is a former pro motocross racer and Sea-Doo world championship competitor, and has competed in bodybuilding since age 17. He teaches the Pre-Script nutrition and body composition course, has formulated supplements for multiple companies, and serves as resident doc on the IFBB PRO podcast. Timestamps:09:34 Why "surplus" is a myth: building muscle without a massive bulk21:43 The #1 mistake coaches make with weight-loss clients27:38 Food noise, GLP-1s, and the neuroscience of appetite38:49 The blood work your doctor probably isn't ordering49:51 Fixing blood pressure without meds: movement, stress, and the salt myth Follow Dr. Dwayne Jackson: https://www.instagram.com/drdnjackson/ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on Spotify or wherever you listen, and share it with a friend, it helps a ton. Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Pre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-call Advisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrt Spoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E28: Dr. Dwayne Jackson on Gut Health, GLP-1s, and the Muscle-Building Myths That Won't Die

  5. Aug 17

    E27: Trading Mass for Athleticism with Will Carter

    For 15 years, Will Carter built his identity around getting as big as possible. Now he's training for a half marathon. Nick sits down with Will Carter, owner of No Limits Fitness in Monroe, NC and a longtime natural bodybuilder, to talk about why he's stepping back from bodybuilding and shifting toward more athletic, general-fitness training. Will lays out the real reasons: he's likely near his genetic ceiling as the sport's top tier keeps getting bigger, and prep is starting to cost him time and energy with his kids that he's no longer willing to give up. They dig into what "athletic training" actually means beyond the buzzword, why bodybuilders and strength coaches both train from bias, and why chasing size stopped being worth it for him. Along the way: the natural bodybuilding transparency debate (Liver King gets named directly), how much genetics actually separates the enhanced from the gifted, gym owner chaos stories (yes, someone bit a pec deck pad), and a rundown of which gym equipment brands are worth the money. Timestamps: 5:49 Gym owner chaos, people biting pec deck pads and breaking in after hours 15:14 Keeping members happy vs doing what's actually right, the shirtless training policy 19:11 Body dysmorphia and why Will is stepping back, sleep, family, and hitting his genetic ceiling 26:46 What "athletic training" actually means 41:14 Liver King, fake natties, and how much genetics really matters 47:21 Rapid fire, best and worst gym equipment brands Follow Will Carter: https://www.instagram.com/willcarternlf/ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on Spotify or wherever you listen, and share it with a friend, it helps a ton. Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgC Pre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-call Advisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrt Spoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E27: Trading Mass for Athleticism with Will Carter

  6. Aug 10

    E26: Stop Chasing Mobility — Get Strong Instead: Solo Q&A

    This conversation details Nick going solo for the first time — no guest, no back-and-forth, just an hour of unfiltered opinions on where the industry gets movement wrong. He opens with a rant on the internet's obsession with peptide flexing before diving into corrective exercise, functional movement screening, and the mobility-as-fix-all trend that's taken over social media. From there it's a rapid-fire Q&A covering how to actually assess a client without a "dog and pony show," why tempo training matters more for learning than for hypertrophy, how to cue clients based on their learning style, and the difference between yielding and overcoming isometrics for training around pain. Nick also breaks down five rules every trainer should live by, why most "difficult clients" are a coaching problem in disguise, and shares the story of the worst training injury he's ever caused — to himself. Along the way, he recaps highlights from a recent trip to Kenya, including a bush plane landing interrupted by a wildebeest and a visit to a boxing charity in the Kibera slum. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on Spotify or wherever you listen, and share it with a friend — it helps a ton. https://www.instagram.com/nickridpath_/ Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgCPre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-callAdvisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgCSpoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E26: Stop Chasing Mobility — Get Strong Instead: Solo Q&A

  7. Aug 3

    E25: Stop Mimicking Sports in the Weight Room with Steven Sahyoun

    This conversation details the mechanics of bridging early-stage rehab to late-stage performance, building raw physical capacity for combat sports, and navigating modern industry trends. Steve breaks down the vital distinction between a medical diagnosis and a movement diagnosis, explaining why low-stimulus rehab inputs must eventually progress into high-stimulus tissue loading to drive true adaptation. We explore his "hardware vs. software" framework for strength and conditioning, detailing why coaches should focus on building a faster, more resilient "car" (hardware) rather than trying to mimic sports skills or teach punching mechanics in the weight room (software). Additionally, the discussion addresses the massive misconceptions surrounding fight camp programming and social media "knee bulletproofing" trends. Steve calls out low-load bodyweight drills marketed as full rehab solutions, explaining why they only serve as warm-ups for meaningful forces. We break down how to manage intensity versus volume during a fight camp taper, how to auto-regulate training around the chaos of combat sports, and why maintaining high-load eccentric strength is essential for prolonging tissue capacity in aging athletes. Chapters00:00 – Bali Traffic and Dubai Living, and Global Healthcare Systems10:38 – Medical vs. Movement Diagnoses: Bridging Rehab to Performance14:24 – Personal Injury History and SC Joint Dislocation Mechanics19:14 – Low-Stimulus Inputs vs. High-Stimulus Tissue Adaptation28:58 – Human Connection vs. AI in Modern Coaching39:42 – Combat Sports S&C: The Hardware vs. Software Framework49:25 – Stop Mimicking Sport: Exceeding Tissue Demands in the Gym01:00:13 – The "Best Exercises" Fallacy and Calling Out "Knee Bulletproofing" Trends01:05:38 – Fight Camp Programming: Managing Max Strength, Intensity, and Volume Find Steven: https://www.instagram.com/coach_steven_sahyoun/ Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgCPre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-callAdvisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgCSpoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E25: Stop Mimicking Sports in the Weight Room with Steven Sahyoun

  8. Jul 28

    E24: The Truth About Sport Specificity with Kyle Rogers

    This conversation details high-level pitching development, bridging the gap between skill coaching and strength & conditioning, and navigating modern baseball development trends. We discuss the unique business and development landscape of the MLB draft, NIL deals, and the massive skill gap between college and big-league baseball. Kyle Rogers leverages his background as a pitching coordinator and strength coach to break down how S&C should serve as a vessel for skill acquisition rather than an isolated pursuit, highlighting why generic weight room programming fails high-level throwers. Additionally, the discussion addresses common sport-specificity dogmas, debunking the anti-bench press and anti-dip narratives in baseball by looking at upper-body force output, lengthened pec capacity, and shoulder horizontal abduction correlations to velocity. We explore anatomical biases—such as trunk rotation versus flexion/extension preferences—and explain why adding force on top of movement dysfunction leads to breakdown on the field. Kyle explains the dangers of relying solely on quantitative force plate metrics over qualitative movement observation, and offers a nuanced take on youth sports specialization versus multi-sport participation based on individual athlete context. 00:00 – MLB Draft Mechanics, NIL Deals, and Minor League Timelines 08:48 – Bridging Pitching Skill Coaching with Strength & Conditioning 14:20 – Misconceptions in Sport-Specific Training: Shapes vs. Skill Mimicry 20:11 – Training Raw vs. High-Skill Athletes: Avoiding Force on Dysfunction 28:37 – Categorizing Anatomical Biases and Pelvic Counter-Rotation 37:04 – Quantitative Force Plates vs. Qualitative Movement Analysis 44:12 – The Bench Press and Dip Argument for Pitchers 55:53 – Youth Baseball, Multi-Sport Debates, and Specialization Find Kyle: https://www.instagram.com/klrogers28/ Support the show: Online Coaching: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgCPre-Script Level 1 Questions: https://calendly.com/nridpath-pre-script/pre-script-advisor-callAdvisory Services for Coaches: https://w1c6llku20e.typeform.com/to/NDrtbAgCSpoken Nutrition (15% Off): https://spokennutrition.com/NICKRIDPATH_ (Use Code: NICKRIDPATH_)

    E24: The Truth About Sport Specificity with Kyle Rogers
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Unbranded with Nick Ridpath is a podcast about having real conversations with real coaches about training and performance. Nick works with general population clients, busy high-achieving professionals, and collegiate and professional athletes — D1, NFL, UFC — and shares the same evidence-based principles he uses with them, applied for coaches and people who take their training seriously. Practical insights that work, without the fluff.

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Ridpath
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nick Ridpath

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