Rethinking Biomechanics Podcast

Adarian Barr and Jenn Pilotti
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A podcast devoted to topics from the book Let Me Introduce You: Tales of levers, threesomes, and movement in the context of sports, performance, and movement. A conversation around rethinking biomechanics. letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

  1. Stop Chasing Shapes

    May 11

    Stop Chasing Shapes

    In this episode of Rethinking Biomechanics, we’re back after a long break and apparently ready to stir the pot. The big theme: stop taking movement conversations personally. If someone critiques a drill, a shape, or a training idea, that doesn’t have to be an attack. It can simply be an invitation to rethink. We talk about why so much of the performance world gets stuck “painting by numbers”: chasing positions, copying drills, pursuing strength for the sake of strength, and trying to force athletes into shapes that may have nothing to do with how they actually move best. Movement is not about hitting the perfect pose. It’s about understanding how the body organizes itself through rotations, levers, timing, and ease. That led us into a bigger conversation about efficiency. Coaches often try to make things harder. But the best movers usually find a way to make things easier. Easier works. We also talk about femur pitch, why drills don’t always transfer, upcoming projects, Jen’s new book Spinal Intelligence, and our upcoming NSCA talk on asymmetry. Listen in if you’re ready to stop painting by numbers and start rethinking movement. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    35 min
  2. Go Play: Escaping Fitness Categories

    11/01/2025

    Go Play: Escaping Fitness Categories

    Season 3, Episode 2 of Let Me Introduce You dives into the boxes we put movement (and ourselves) in—performance, aesthetics, “I just like to move,” and health. We tease apart how these categories can help, how they can trap us, and why the best training plan might simply be… to play. In this one, Jen admits she’s more “flip upside down” than “athlete,” and Adarian counters that athletics is just movement—an expression like dance. We talk access (why people do what they can reach), competition (maybe it’s just the desire to be noticed), and why gyms should feel like playgrounds instead of rule books. Also inside: the origin story of Adarian’s simple fitness app idea, and Jen’s quick tip about using the heel and pelvis to make step-ups click. Takeaway: stop pigeonholing yourself. Walk into the gym and explore. Try the barbell. Toss the med ball. Mess up. Learn. Repeat. Movement can be free—and fun. Hit play, share with a friend who’s stuck in a “program or bust” mindset, and tell us what category you’ve outgrown. 🎧 P.S. If you’re loving the show, subscribe and leave a quick note—yes, we read them! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    31 min
  3. LMIY Season 3 Episode 1

    10/12/2025

    LMIY Season 3 Episode 1

    In this episode, Jenn and Adarian discuss disillusionment in the training and coaching industry. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    45 min
  4. Learning to Fall: The Key to Moving with Ease

    06/13/2025

    Learning to Fall: The Key to Moving with Ease

    We're back with a fresh episode of Let Me Introduce You, and this time, we're talking about something that happens to everyone—but most of us are taught to avoid at all costs: falling. Falling is more than a mishap. It’s an essential element of movement. In this episode, we (Jenn and Adarian) dive headfirst into why falling is foundational to athleticism, fluidity, and everyday movement. From running to breakdancing, from judo to jumping jacks, we explore how falling initiates action, redirects momentum, and enhances performance when understood—not feared. Here are a few highlights: * What falling really is: It’s not just leaning forward or collapsing. True falling involves a loss of ground contact, a shift in the torso, and often—if you’re moving well—an intentional interception by a limb. * The role of the torso: Forget the hips. It’s the torso that truly initiates forward movement. Whether you're sprinting like a cheetah or dancing on one hand, torso control determines flow. * Running, reimagined: We talk about how the torso’s fall drives sprinting, the misunderstood role of the heel strike, and how the swing leg helps the stance leg. * Falling in sport and art: Martial artists, dancers, and top athletes don’t resist the fall—they embrace and direct it. * Fall prevention tips: Adarian shares the number one fall prevention strategy (hint: it’s not shuffling your feet). * Jenn’s clinic revelations: What changed when Jenn stopped “stepping on oranges” and started yawing her femurs? She went from vertical bounce to horizontal zoom—and learned a thing or two about how fast she could go. We even touch on reflexes, stumble recovery, explosive movements like push-ups and throws, and why learning how to fall might be the most valuable skill you can develop. We’ll return to this topic in an upcoming Part Two, because there’s still so much more to explore—including how falling relates to different kinds of rotation, injury risk, and agility in later life. As always, thank you for listening. And remember: Learn to fall. Move better. Fall less. 🎧 Listen to the episode here (insert podcast link) — Events Mentioned: * July: SoCal/LA Plannar Plate Workshop * September: Seattle—likely with a part two on falling! * January: Vegas * February: Florida (TBD) * Website is back online Got questions or thoughts about falling, movement, or upcoming events? Reply to this post or hit us up on social. And if you haven’t yet, grab a copy of Let Me Introduce You—the book that started it all. —Jenn & Adarian This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    24 min
  5. Let Me Introduce You: Rehabilitation from Death, Sumo Strategies & System Thinking

    05/26/2025

    Let Me Introduce You: Rehabilitation from Death, Sumo Strategies & System Thinking

    In one of the most profound and eye-opening episodes of Let Me Introduce You, Adarian Barr shares the story of his literal return from the edge—surviving eight heart restarts and 45 minutes of chest compressions after a massive cardiac arrest. What follows is an intimate, thoughtful exploration of rehabilitating after death, what it means to truly understand the system of the body, and how conventional wisdom often misses the mark. 🎙️ This Episode Covers: * Why core strength is overrated (and what really matters) * Recovery through walking, coordination, and the Helix Point system * Lessons from the emergency room and blood work that everyone should know * The power and agility of sumo wrestlers—and what they reveal about real athleticism * Eating for the system versus eating in isolation * Why “specialists” miss the bigger picture of health, rehab, and movement 💡 Big Takeaways: * Movement matters—but not in the way you’ve been taught. * Systems thinking can save your life—literally. * Blood work isn’t just for the sick—it’s a baseline everyone should track. 📅 Upcoming: Adarian and Jenn will be teaching in Seattle June 6–7 and Adarian is teaching in L.A. in July. Also, the long-awaited Helix Point is coming this January! 🎧 Listen now to gain insight on life, recovery, and redefining what it means to move well—even after the unthinkable. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    29 min
  6. LMIY Season 2 episode 9:

    05/18/2025

    LMIY Season 2 episode 9:

    In this lively and thought-provoking episode of Let Me Introduce You, Jenn and Adarian dive deep into the world of parlor tricks—those flashy, entertaining feats that look like athletic prowess but often hinge on illusion and sleight of hand. From flipping snowmobiles to manipulating Persian clubs, they explore the thin line between true strength and well-rehearsed showmanship. You’ll hear why gimmicks can be both amusing and misleading, how confidence (not always ability) is often what’s being sold, and why some so-called assessments in fitness may reveal more about the assessor than the assessed. The duo reflects on their own movement discoveries—from post-hospital recovery insights to the curious impact of imagining squishing a Satsuma orange while running. As always, Jenn and Adarian mix humor, insight, and real-world wisdom to question the norms of fitness culture. Whether you're into movement science or just love a good story, this episode will leave you thinking twice about what you're watching—and why you’re impressed. Questions? Comments? Just hit reply. ✨ Bonus: Learn about their upcoming Seattle events focused on feet, collisions, and hands—and how to ditch the tricks in favor of substance. Friday, June 6 at Fuelhouse in Seattle: Strong Foundations: The role of feet in performance Saturday, June 7 at Woodland Park in Seattle: Hands On: Exploring the role of the hands in human movement: a 3 hour outdoor clinic This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    28 min
  7. Running Tall Might Be Running You Into Trouble

    04/20/2025

    Running Tall Might Be Running You Into Trouble

    🏃‍♀️ "Running Tall" Might Be Running You Into Trouble Season 2, Episode 9 — Let Me Introduce You Podcast In this episode, I got to pick the topic—which means Adarian already knows what’s coming. And this week, we dug into something that’s been showing up with a couple of my clients lately: the concept of "running tall." Spoiler: it's not doing them any favors. 💡 Why "Running Tall" Isn't the Gold Standard Two of my recent clients—strong, fit runners with great cardiovascular capacity—came to me with leg injuries. Both mentioned they had been taught to run with an upright posture. Why? Because "the internet said so." And that, dear reader, is how myths get legs (pun intended). Adarian and I broke down where this idea likely came from: visual bias. Coaches, trainers, and the fitness industry at large often teach from what looks right, not necessarily what works best. And standing tall while you move? It might look clean, but it leads to more abrupt collisions with the ground. 🧠 Collision Management: The Missing Piece in Movement Education What if the way your body handles impact—the collision—is the real key to smoother, injury-free movement? This is where Adarian dropped a critical concept: time stretch. A lowered torso helps you extend the duration of a collision, making it less jarring. When you're too upright, every step is a mini-whiplash. Joints, tissues, and the nervous system absorb that force differently—and not in a good way. It's not about absorbing impact as much as it’s about spreading it out over time. 🏋️‍♀️ The Upright Epidemic in Exercise This tendency to hold the torso high doesn’t just show up in running. It’s everywhere—from bicep curls to lunges to cable machines. We’re so accustomed to moving with a “high torso” that we forget how much more efficient—and comfortable—movement becomes when we lower it. Adarian made a great analogy: imagine if exercise paid by the rep. You’d likely choose the position that lets you do more quality reps, not the one that feels hardest. Lowering the torso often allows you to produce more movement with less strain. That’s better ROI for your body. 🎤 What Else We Covered * The false promise of posture correction and "form fixes" that end up creating more problems * Why even studies are starting to catch up to what experience has been telling us for years * How common movement cues often come from aesthetics, not effectiveness * A quick detour into shoulder mobility, elbow rotation, and the importance of fluid (viscoelastic) movement 📍 Takeaways You Can Use Today * Rethink “posture”: Upright isn’t always optimal—especially for movement. Consider where your torso is, not just how your body looks. * Check your stairs game: Lean forward slightly when descending. You might be shocked how much it helps knee pain. * Lower for longevity: In everything from skipping to lifting to dancing, a low torso lets your body stretch collisions and move more naturally. * Movement isn't fancy: We have a limited number of foundational movement patterns. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to move well. 🗓️ Upcoming Events We’re hitting the road! * Seattle: June 6–7 * Los Angeles: July 18–20 And yes, we’re still working on that next book, plus a new webinar is on the horizon. 🎧 Listen Now If you've ever struggled with running form, felt pain during simple movements, or just want to better understand how the body really works—this episode is for you. Until next time,Jenn P.S. Got questions? Thoughts? A weird running story? Hit me up—yes, me! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    22 min
  8. Into the Unknowns: When Shapes Deceive and Muscles Lie

    04/07/2025

    Into the Unknowns: When Shapes Deceive and Muscles Lie

    In this week’s episode of Let Me Introduce You, we dive into the murky waters of the unknown—those tricky places where assumed knowledge fails and curiosity is the only compass. Adarian kicks things off with an idea Jen hasn’t heard yet (always a great start). Together, they unpack the way we often mistake what we see for how it works. From elbow flexion to running posture, calf raises to fastball grips, the conversation explores how training has become obsessed with copying shapes and isolated muscles instead of seeking real understanding. Why haven’t we broken long-standing athletic records despite being stronger, faster, and better fueled? Why do we train the same drills and still see wildly different results? Maybe we’re all chasing visuals—and missing the mechanics. We also nerd out on sesamoid bones, viscoelastic properties, and how warming up might really just be about syncing flows in the body. This one’s full of “wait...what?” moments and friendly side-eye at the fitness industry's sacred cows. If you’ve ever wondered why doing the thing doesn’t get you the result, this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen to Season 2, Episode 8: “Unknowns” 📘 Plus, we’ve got events, product launches (hello, A-bar and gloves), and the first chapter of the running book coming soon—because the unknowns are too good not to explore. Until next time,Jen & Adarian This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

    24 min
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A podcast devoted to topics from the book Let Me Introduce You: Tales of levers, threesomes, and movement in the context of sports, performance, and movement. A conversation around rethinking biomechanics. letmeintroduceyou.substack.com

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