Eat the Week

Power Athlete Radio

Welcome to Eat the Week, your weekly digest of human performance. Every week, the crew chew through the biggest conversations in training, nutrition, recovery, and more.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep 14: You Don’t Know When Game Day Is Coming

    Athletes train all week for game day. Law enforcement officers don't know when game day is coming. Power Athlete Master Coach Tyson Shumway joins Dr Ben Skutnik to dig into the gap between calling law enforcement officers tactical athletes and actually training them like athletes. After the academy, structured training can quickly disappear, leaving officers to maintain the physical capacity, firearms skills, combatives and psychological resilience their job demands largely on their own. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW014 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to law enforcement training challenges 01:21 Overview of weekly training routines in departments 03:40 Minimum training requirements versus actual practice 05:20 Impact of complacency and overtime on training habits 09:22 Categories of essential training: physical, firearms, and psychosocial 12:08 Scheduling training around irregular shifts and overtime 17:30 Importance of competition and shared experiences 22:10 Building confidence and competence through consistent training 28:30 Stress inoculation and scenario-based training 42:45 Creating a culture of continuous improvement and mastery

    Ep 14: You Don’t Know When Game Day Is Coming

  2. Oct 26

    Ep 13: We’re Ruining Youth Sports

    Youth sports have become big business. Elite teams. Travel tournaments. Private coaching. ID camps. Social media highlights. Parents are being sold the idea that if their kid isn't doing more, they're already falling behind. But what if all that extra work is actually pushing talented kids out of sport? Dr Ben Skutnik is joined by fellow Power Athlete Master Coach, David McKercher, to unpack what's gone wrong with youth sports and what young athletes actually need to develop. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW013 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Rethinking Youth Sports 00:29 Introduction to youth sports challenges 02:37 The Problems with Early Specialization 03:07 The psychological side of youth sports 04:32 The Role of Coaches and Systemic Pressures 07:01 Overtraining and burnout risks 07:35 The Joy of Youth Sports and Unstructured Play 09:00 The Impact of Parental Pressure 11:54 The impact of social media on young athletes 13:00 Elite Coaches and the Focus on Development 16:53 Balancing Talent and Enjoyment 17:58 Coaching ethics and integrity 21:04 The Value of Recess and Free Play 23:00 Pressure management for youth athletes 24:57 Scorekeeping, Pressure, and Youth Mindsets 28:12 The role of parents in youth sports 30:05 Stories of Persistence and Success 32:59 Industry influences and commercialization 35:01 The Future of Youth Sports and Long-Term Development 37:56 Building resilience and perseverance 43:05 The importance of fun in sports 47:58 How to create a healthy sports environment 53:09 The future of youth sports 58:01 Practical steps for coaches and parents

    Ep 13: We’re Ruining Youth Sports

  3. Oct 19

    Ep 12: Why Your Injury Won’t Go Away

    Something hurts. You work around it, stretch it, foam roll it and convince yourself it'll eventually disappear. Six months later, you're still dealing with the same damn problem. Dr Tim Cummings and Power Athlete Master Coach Dennis Dolan join Dr Ben Skutnik to break down what pain is actually telling you and why simply pushing through it can keep you stuck. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW012 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:53 The value of visual feedback in training 03:48 Understanding pain versus discomfort 10:13 The nervous system's role in movement and pain 15:10 Regression as a long-term training strategy 19:57 Mechanics and technique for injury prevention 24:57 The importance of holistic health and mindset 29:57 Effective warm-up and cool-down practices 35:04 Addressing anticipatory pain and nervous system regulation 40:09 Community support and expert guidance 44:53 The long-term view on aging and movement 50:00 Practical advice for training with injury in mind 55:12 The value of professional consultation and ongoing care 01:00:02 Closing thoughts and takeaways

    Ep 12: Why Your Injury Won’t Go Away

  4. Oct 12

    Ep 11: Most Tactical Training Gets It Wrong

    Power Athlete Master Coach and 19-year law enforcement veteran Tyson Shumway joins Dr. Ben Skutnik to break down what tactical training gets wrong and what it actually takes to prepare for the job. They dig into outdated academy training, the difference between testing toughness and building capability, and why law enforcement officers need more than endless bodyweight workouts and long runs. Strength, speed, aerobic capacity, agility, mobility and recovery all matter when the job can take you from sitting in a patrol car to moving at full speed in seconds. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW11 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Tyson Shumway and podcast focus 02:12 Understanding USPSA shooting and its relevance 03:49 The real test of law enforcement skills: high heart rate scenarios 04:38 Limitations of traditional tactical training and competitions 07:02 Misconceptions about tactical training and industry trends 09:26 The true essence of tactical tactics and physical fitness 12:12 Origins of law enforcement training methods 13:21 The importance of athleticism and durability in law enforcement 17:42 Building an aerobic base and strength for longevity 20:24 The role of sprinting, power, and agility in tactical readiness 25:43 Recovery, mobility, and maintaining physical health 28:39 The culture of training and competition in law enforcement 34:06 Preparing for the worst day: mental resilience and scenario planning 38:40 The importance of confidence and physical presence 44:10 Embracing the athlete mindset in tactical careers 46:32 The value of competition and camaraderie 50:39 Closing thoughts and next topics

    Ep 11: Most Tactical Training Gets It Wrong

  5. Oct 5

    Ep 10: How to Stay Athletic for Life

    Dr Ben Skutnik and fellow Power Athlete Certified Coach, Dr Tim Cummings, break down what it actually takes to stay athletic as you get older. From sprinting and strength training to recovery, consistency, and knowing when to push or pull back, they explain how to keep building a body that can perform for decades. Getting older doesn’t mean giving up speed, strength, or explosiveness. You just need to play the long game. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW10 Timestamps: 00:00 — Tim’s return to sprinting at 50 01:42 — Bedrock training and developing a more athletic mindset 02:49 — How sprinting loads the body differently from lifting 03:48 — Training with intention instead of going through the motions 04:21 — Staying focused during lifts and sprint work 05:21 — Adjusting training when the week’s schedule changes 06:04 — Consistency versus heroic effort 07:29 — How regular training supports tissue durability 08:28 — Ramping back into sprinting after time off 09:03 — Tim’s first hard sprint session back 10:19 — Maintaining training qualities during a disrupted week 11:15 — Progressive overload as a gradual process 12:19 — How adult responsibilities and stress affect training 13:43 — Considering the whole person, not just the sore body part 15:08 — “When life is really heavy, the weight should be really light” 16:19 — Load management lessons from professional sports 18:08 — LeBron James and managing the demands of a long career 21:02 — Balancing training intent with realistic self-assessment 22:35 — Why advanced training calls for competency and awareness 24:46 — Warm-ups should prepare specific movement patterns 25:37 — How repeated training builds self-awareness 27:12 — Why cool-downs deserve more attention 28:49 — Preparation and recovery as part of the training process 31:22 — Why sprint preparation takes time and focus 33:08 — Becoming better at assessing your own training 34:50 — Adjusting a lift without abandoning the workout’s purpose 35:52 — Knowing when to adapt and when to ask for guidance 37:18 — How coaching and community can build understanding 40:07 — Asking questions instead of trying to figure everything out alone 41:41 — Why reaching out early may help prevent a lengthy setback 43:13 — Learning to distinguish

    Ep 10: How to Stay Athletic for Life

  6. Sep 28

    Ep 9: Why Losing Weight Is So Damn Hard

    Losing weight is simple. Keeping it off is where things get complicated. Dr Ben Skutnik and fellow Power Athlete Master Coach, Johnny Durrett, break down why diets fail, the role of accountability, and how to build nutrition habits that actually survive real life. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW009 Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome back and the case for All Access training 01:43 - Why having multiple programs helps with travel and life changes 03:12 - Iron Flex as the most useful “force multiplier” 05:05 - The nutrition question that sparked the conversation 06:12 - John’s 315-pound starting point in high school 08:14 - Which was harder: losing weight or getting in shape? 09:42 - A terrible first experience with nutrition coaching 10:07 - Acting, body image, and being told what roles were off limits 12:00 - The airplane seatbelt moment and the reality check 12:59 - Treating weight loss like a skill problem 13:27 - Learning nutrition by tracking food and reading textbooks 14:50 - Getting in shape through trial and error in the gym 16:46 - Why food environment and family habits make dieting harder 17:51 - Subtle weight gain gets ignored until it compounds 18:49 - Why the obesity epidemic exists alongside more gym culture 20:30 - Looking leaner versus just getting smaller 21:28 - The bad math of training hard on 2,000 calories a day 22:24 - Denny’s, three Grand Slams, and the cost of restriction 23:45 - Why coaching finally helped John look leaner, not just smaller 24:14 - Hammer 90 and a more sustainable way to cut 25:09 - Why nutrition coaching solves the 24-hour problem, not just gym time 26:03 - The bank account analogy for dieting and maintenance 27:55 - Why cutting weight too hard hurts performance and recovery 28:42 - Weight-class athletes and the logic problem with last-minute cuts 30:25 - Why “I can do it myself” usually means you need help 31:22 - The food system, constant temptation, and self-awareness 32:32 - Weight gain as a check engine light 33:13 - Temptation everywhere after leaving the gym 34:41 - Why having a post-workout food plan matters 35:40 - Coaching as accountability, not punishment 36:36 - Grandmas, birthday pie, and getting back on track 38:29 - Why coaching can be temporary and still life-changing 39:25 - Regaining control when life changes 40:34 - The biggest benefit of a coach is sharing the load 41:12 - Why three months is a useful cut timeline 42:22 - Why six months of coaching is often smarter than three 43:32 - Not everyone needs to lose weight, but many do 44:11 - Telling the truth without judgment 45:31 - Why awareness and honesty beat shame 46:21 - Why doing it once teaches you that you can do it again 47:31 - Buy nutrition coaching before over-investing in training 48:18 - Weighing and measuring food is not crazy 48:44 - Why daily weigh-ins are useful, especially for athletes 50:28 - Why weight-class athletes should avoid chaotic cuts 51:51 - Amateur competitors should make life easier, not harder 52:49 - Why nutrition is harder the first time around 53:12 - Finding the right coach and paying it forward 53:55 - Coaching options, one-on-one time, and how to reach Johnny 55:16 - Hammer 90 timing and closing remarks

    Ep 9: Why Losing Weight Is So Damn Hard

  7. Sep 21

    Ep 8: Stop Trying to Optimize Everything

    Stop obsessing over perfect sleep, recovery scores and optimization. Dr. Ben Skutnik and Dr. Hunter Waldman break down why resilience, consistency and knowing your own body matter more than chasing perfect conditions. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW008 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and guest introduction 01:01 Balancing family life and training 01:57 Training during busy schedules 04:03 Self-experimentation and N of one approach 14:55 Incorporating sprints and conditioning 20:01 The importance of community and stress management 30:01 Evolutionary perspective on sleep and stress 39:57 The role of mindset and placebo in training 49:55 Practical guidelines for daily performance 59:56 Research projects and future directions

    Ep 8: Stop Trying to Optimize Everything

  8. Sep 14

    Ep 7: Strong Isn’t Enough

    Being strong is great. Being strong, conditioned, mobile and hard to break is better. After nearly two decades in law enforcement, Tyson Shumway joins Ben to talk durability, aerobic conditioning, recovery and why building a body that can handle whatever life throws at it matters more than what you can bench. Show notes: https://bit.ly/ETW07 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Tyson's background 02:01 Balancing law enforcement, family, and fitness 03:53 Training evolution from CrossFit to power athlete programs 06:56 Community's role in motivation and support 10:02 Training for durability and longevity in law enforcement 13:55 Overcoming setbacks and injuries 17:52 The importance of a well-rounded fitness approach 22:11 Lessons from a stroke and the focus on health 25:58 Psychological aspects of confidence and leadership 30:07 Supporting the next generation of first responders 35:50 Community growth and the power of shared experience 39:58 Final thoughts and Tyson's contact information

    Ep 7: Strong Isn’t Enough
See All (14)

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Welcome to Eat the Week, your weekly digest of human performance. Every week, the crew chew through the biggest conversations in training, nutrition, recovery, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Power Athlete Radio
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Power Athlete Radio
  • Show Website
    Eat the Week

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