The Higher Powered Podcast

Kurt Kessler

5.0 (8)
Medicine
Complete

The Higher Powered Podcast is a biweekly show hosted by Kurt Kessler, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC. The show discusses various topics in the world of physical therapy, sports medicine, and health and fitness. The goal is to give the listener practical education that can be applied for the purposes of betterment of knowledge, fitness, and pursuit of the best care in the world of sports medicine.

1d ago

Episode 34: Anti-Aging for Lower Body

Kurt Kessler discusses the importance of maintaining lower body and core function for anti-aging, focusing on control, mobility, and strength in the hips, core, and foot to prevent decline and injury. Keywords anti-aging, core stability, lower body strength, mobility, injury prevention, functional movement, aging well Key topics Core and low back control as foundational to movement Importance of hip extension and single-leg control Role of foot and ankle stability in long-term health Takeaways Maintaining control of your center and ground interaction is crucial for longevity. Training should focus on positions and movements that decline with age. Strong, controlled hip extension and single-leg stability are key to functional aging. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Anti-Aging Through Movement 00:57 Understanding Core and Lower Body Function 02:43 The Role of the Core in Movement 06:32 Maintaining Core Stability and Control 09:47 The Importance of Lower Body Training 11:04 Hip Extension and Its Impact on Movement 13:43 Single Leg Control for Functional Movement 16:16 The Underrated Calf Complex 18:59 The Importance of Foot Function 20:46 Conclusion: Training for Longevity and Functionality CONNECT Instagram - https://instagram.com/higherpowersportspt kurt@hpsportspt.com

26 min
Jun 29

Faith in Practice: Episode 33: God Has A Long Nose w/ Bekah Strangairty

In this episode of Faith in Practice, Kurt Kessler sits down with Bekah Strangarity, Next Steps Director at Manheim BIC, to wrestle with a question many Christians have asked: Is the God of the Old Testament angry and wrathful, while the God of the New Testament is loving and merciful? Together, Kurt and Bekah unpack Exodus 34, where God reveals His own name and character: merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and faithful. Bekah explains how the Hebrew language gives deeper meaning to these descriptions, including the image of God’s mercy being like a mother’s compassion for her child and His patience being described as “long of nose.” The conversation also explores God’s justice, the consequences of sin, generational effects, Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament, and how our identity as beloved children of God changes the way we deal with shame, failure, and recurring sin. If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile God’s wrath with His mercy, or wondered whether God is disappointed in you, this episode offers a hopeful and deeply biblical reminder: God’s heart has always been merciful, compassionate, patient, and pursuing relationship with His people. CONNECT: Kurt: hpsportspt@gmail.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/higherpowersportspt/ Bekah: RebekahS@manheimbic.org

54 min
Jun 22

Episode 33: Can You Prevent Injury?

Can you actually prevent injury… or is that a myth? In this episode, Kurt tackles one of the biggest debates in sports medicine: injury prevention vs unpredictability. On one side, everything can be trained, measured, and managed. On the other, there are simply too many variables to control. So what’s the truth? Breaking down factors like strength, endurance, intensity, stress, nutrition, hydration, workload, and external forces, Kurt walks through both sides of the argument—and lands in the middle. Chapters: 00:00 – Can You Actually Prevent Injury? 03:00 – What Leads to Injury (Strength, Fatigue, Intensity) 08:30 – Lifestyle Factors: Stress, Nutrition, Hydration 13:30 – Workload, Training & Unpredictable Injuries 17:10 – The Truth: Injury Prevention vs Risk Reduction Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt

23 min
Jun 15

Faith in Practice: Episode 32: Jesus' Dream Team

Everybody loves a dream team… until it’s your rival building it. In this episode, Kurt uses sports—from LeBron’s superteams to personal basketball stories—to explore a deeper question: why do we chase talent, security, and proven success… while Jesus chose the exact opposite? When Jesus builds His team in the Gospels, He doesn’t recruit the most qualified, polished, or influential people. He chooses fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot—ordinary, unproven individuals with messy backgrounds and conflicting perspectives. So why them? This episode breaks down the contrast between how the world builds teams and how Jesus builds people—and what that means for how we see others and ourselves. Chapters: 00:00 – Why We Build “Dream Teams” 03:30 – My Personal Dream Team Story 09:00 – How Jesus Built His Team 13:30 – Why Jesus Chose the Unqualified 17:30 – What This Means for How You See People If you’ve ever felt unqualified, overlooked, or unsure of your place, this episode offers a different perspective: Jesus isn’t building a team of the best—He’s building people who are willing. Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt

21 min
Jun 8

Episode 32: Data Driven Return to Sport

When is an athlete actually ready to return to sport? In this episode, Kurt breaks down what data-driven return to play really means—and why timelines alone aren’t enough. Being pain-free or hitting a certain number of weeks post-injury doesn’t equal readiness. Using real-world examples (including ACL rehab), Kurt walks through the key metrics he uses to make return-to-play decisions: Strength and limb symmetry (and why 90% may not be enough)Peak force and rate of force developmentPlyometric readiness and workload progressionSport-specific demands and performance standardsThe goal isn’t just getting back on the field—it’s staying there. This episode explains how proper testing and progression can significantly reduce re-injury risk and set athletes up for long-term success. If you’re an athlete, parent, or coach trying to understand when it’s truly safe to return, this episode provides a clear framework for making better decisions. Chapters: 00:00 – What Is Data-Driven Return to Play? 02:00 – Strength, Symmetry & Why 90% Matters 07:30 – Power, Reaction Time & Neurological Recovery 11:30 – Plyometrics, Workload & Building Capacity 15:30 – Meeting the Demands of Sport (Not Just Rehab) Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt

21 min
Jun 1

Faith in Practice: Episode 31: The Upside Down Kingdom

What does success actually look like? We’re taught to chase comfort, money, influence, and control. But when you slow down and really study the Gospels, Jesus points in a completely different direction. In this episode, Kurt breaks down the idea of the “upside down kingdom”—a kingdom where strength starts with need, where the overlooked are seen, and where the people we avoid are often the ones Jesus moves toward. Walking through real examples from Scripture—the leper, the woman at the well, Matthew the tax collector, the sinful woman, and more—this episode highlights a consistent pattern: what we naturally pursue, Jesus often rejects… and what we naturally avoid, He pursues. This isn’t just theology—it’s a direct challenge to how we define success, build our lives, and interact with others. If you’ve ever felt the tension between ambition and faith, comfort and obedience, or success and surrender, this episode will make you take a hard look at what you’re actually chasing. Chapters: 00:00 – What Does Success Actually Look Like? 02:30 – The Upside Down Kingdom Explained 07:30 – Who Jesus Moves Toward (Real Gospel Examples) 18:30 – Wealth, Comfort, and Dependence on God 23:30 – Rethinking Your Values & What You’re Chasing Connect with Kurt: Instagram: @higherpowersportspt

28 min
May 25

Episode 31: Red Light Therapy

The episode explores the effectiveness of red light therapy in sports medicine, highlighting its applications, limitations, and evidence-based outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practice and the appropriate use of red light therapy in specific contexts. Takeaways Red light therapy has evidence-based benefits in cancer care and hair loss.Red light therapy can provide short-term pain relief but does not address the underlying problem causing the pain. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Red Light Therapy06:13 Red Light Therapy for Knee Arthritis CONNECT https://www.instagram.com/higherpowersportspt/ kurt@hpsportspt.com

14 min
May 18

Faith in Practice: Episode 30: Do you want to feel better or get better?

In this episode, Kurt Kessler shares a deeply personal story about navigating hurt and pride through a faith-driven lens. Moving beyond simply feeling better, he emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth, humility, and authentic accountability. It's a guide to transforming emotional pain into opportunity for spiritual refinement. Key Topics:The difference between feeling better and getting better in a spiritual contextRecognizing pride as a barrier to growth and how Satan exploits itThe importance of community and accountability in spiritual developmentHow Scripture, specifically Matthew 16:24–25, guides us to deny ourselves and embrace transformationThe role of humility and truth in sharpening one’s characterPractical steps to seek honest feedback and correction from trusted believersThe significance of aligning identity with Christ rather than self-prideTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Emotions deeply felt and the struggle with unhealthy responses 00:33 - Personal story of hurt and the tendency to bury feelings 01:01 - The shift toward sharing with accountability rather than hiding 01:30 - The importance of seeking truth, not just validation 01:57 - Gratitude for God-placed men of faith for spiritual growth 02:28 - The distinction between feeling better and truly getting better 02:55 - The role of community in correction and encouragement 03:23 - How Satan uses pride to distort our emotions and thoughts 03:53 - The biblical perspective: Matthew 16:24–25 and denying self 04:23 - The power of accountability and spiritual sharpening 04:52 - Recognizing pride as a spiritual attack and resisting it 05:20 - Scripture as a foundation for identity and transformation in Christ 05:31 - Embracing death to self as a form of spiritual refinement 05:59 - Returning to Scripture as the true source of identity and growth 06:27 - The value of seeking honest, sometimes tough, truth from trusted believers 06:47 - Closing encouragement: humility and community are keys to true growth and transformation Connect with Kurt:Instagram

8 min

5

out of 5

8 Ratings

The Higher Powered Podcast is a biweekly show hosted by Kurt Kessler, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC. The show discusses various topics in the world of physical therapy, sports medicine, and health and fitness. The goal is to give the listener practical education that can be applied for the purposes of betterment of knowledge, fitness, and pursuit of the best care in the world of sports medicine.

Creator

Kurt Kessler
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

68
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2025 Kurt Kessler