The Strength Game

Nick O'Brien
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The Strength Game is a weekly podcast dedicated to discussing all things physical culture with the coaches, athletes, iron enthusiasts, and experts deeply imbedded in the strength game on both sides of the profession; as coaches and as competitive athletes. Hosted by Nick O’Brien, each episode we discuss, rant and dive deep into all things related to strength and conditioning, high performance and training lifestyle. Join us in The Strength Game!

  1. #160 - Melissa Mercado

    3D AGO

    #160 - Melissa Mercado

    Melissa Mercado is the Tactical Manager and Practice Planner General Manager at TeamBuildr. Mercado joined TeamBuildr in 2024 first as a tactical manager before taking on additional responsibilities as the practice planner general manager in 2025. Prior to her current position, Mercado was a strength and conditioning coach at the School of Infantry-East for the Marine Combat Instructor Course and Headquarters and Support Battalion in Camp Lejeune, NC. She was in this role from 2022-2024 and spent the early part of 2022 as a strength coach at Wounded Warrior Battalion-East. Mercado began her coaching career as an intern coach at her alma mater, Radford University. She served in that role from 2017-2018 while also gaining additional experience as an intern at Virginia Commonwealth University in summer of 2018 and Clemson University the fall of 2018. From there she transitioned into the tactical field as a Fitness Specialist at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where she played a key role in the Force Fitness Instructor Course, developing the curriculum and instructing future FFI’s and FFIT’s.  Outside of work, Mercado enjoys sunrise runs, discovering new coffee shops, lifting heavy things, walking her dog Wyatt, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clemson Tigers.  Support the show

    1h 9m
  2. #159 - Mike Axler

    APR 21

    #159 - Mike Axler

    Mike Axler is an Exercise Science professor and researcher with extensive experience in endurance sport, strength training and applied physiology. Earning his PhD in applied physiology from the University of Delaware in 2023, Axler currently teaches classes on the subject of anatomy & physiology and human nutrition as an assistant professor of exercise science at Jacksonville University. Arriving at JU in 2023, he spent 2019-2023 as a graduate research and teaching assistant at the University of Delaware while earning his doctorate. He also garnered coaching experience as a seasonal strength coach with the UDel football program in summer 2022. Prior to that, Axler spent time as a certified personal trainer at Retro Fitness in Winter Garden, FL from 2018-2019 and graduate assistant at the University of Central Florida from 2017-2018. Axler got his start in the exercise science field as a physical therapy aide and online trainer at Breakthru Physical Therapy in Mt. Laurel, NJ from 2016-2018.  Beyond the classroom, Axler is also an executive performance strategist and founder of Axler Concierge Coaching. Through his online coaching business, he combines evidence-based strategies with a concierge-level client experience, programming and consulting for a wide range of clients from youth athletes and older adults to professional athletes, busy entrepreneurs, and high-performing executives. Additionally, he is also the host of the Simple Science podcast, where he leads long-form conversations on the intersection of science, performance and human health with a wide range of guests in the health and fitness space.  Axler is no stranger to training in addition to his many research, teaching and coaching responsibilities. He is very active himself in the weight room and outside of it, competing in multiple endurance based events. To date he has competed in and successfully completed over 60 marathons and ultramarathons over the course of his racing career with the long-term goal of competing in a race in every state across the USA.  Support the show

    1h 23m
  3. #158 - Tim Caron

    APR 7

    #158 - Tim Caron

    Tim Caron is the Co-Founder and Head Coach of Allegiate Gym. Caron helped start Allegiate Gym with two of his former football players and co-founders in 2017. Since the opening in Los Angeles, they have seen the gym expand to three total locations. Prior to his work in the private sector, he spent the majority of his career in collegiate strength and conditioning. His last stop was Army West Point where he served as the head football strength coach for the Black Knights for three seasons. While at the United States Military Academy, Caron helped spearhead Army to an explosive victory over Navy in 2016 – their first win in the historic series in 15 years. Prior to Army he spent three years as the associate strength coach at USC working with the Trojans football team in addition to overseeing the swim & dive team. Caron began his full-time coaching career at Springfield College, where he worked with multiple programs including the football, men’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball and women’s sprint & jump programs. He then joined the Georgia Tech staff as an associate strength coach for football in addition to overseeing the women’s basketball team for three years before joining USC. Caron also bolsters experience as an intern coach first at Velocity Sports Performance and later with Harvard University, Georgia Tech and the University of Mississippi before securing a role at Springfield College.  In addition to his coaching experience, Coach Caron is heavily involved in the S&C field as an author, consultant, mentor, and speaker. He is has written numerous blog posts in addition to being the author of multiple books including Strength Deficit, How to Become a Strength Coach, and Training Sports Teams. Caron is a coaching consultant and mentor to many coaches offering both in-person and online consulting and mentorship programs in a wide range of topics for the Strength TC Collective including muscle mentorship, private mentorship, staff workshop, staff audit, and remote consult. He has spoken at various strength and conditioning conferences and been featured on many podcast in addition to being the host of his own, the Performance Health (pH) Podcast. Caron is a true strength advocate and enthusiast who has been an avid lifter with dedicated time under the bar. He still continues to train hard while coaching and running his business and gyms.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1 hr
  4. #157 - Colton Krueger

    MAR 24

    #157 - Colton Krueger

    Colton Krueger is a Sports Performance Coach at William & Mary. Joining Tribe athletics in 2024, Krueger oversees training for the baseball, men’s and women’s soccer teams in addition to assist with football. Prior to W&M he was a graduate assistant sports performance coach at Youngstown State from 2022-2023 where he worked with the football, track & field, and men’s tennis programs. He started his coaching career as an intern at Marquette in 2020 before earning additional sports performance coaching experience at the University of Oregon with the football team in 2021 and the University of Wisconsin in 2022.  A former college player at Hillsdale College continues to stay active himself in the weight room. He continues to train and compete, now in Olympic weightlifting where he has had success competing at U25 Nationals securing a podium finish in 2025 and earning a qualifying total for the American Open Finals. He is an avid lifter and enjoys skiing, golfing, traveling, and watching sports when he is not training in the weight room.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 29m
  5. #156 - Mike Sullivan

    MAR 10

    #156 - Mike Sullivan

    Mike Sullivan is an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Syracuse University where he oversees and implements the training for the women’s lacrosse and women’s tennis teams. Additionally, Sullivan serves as the head strength and conditioning coach for the USA Senior Women’s Lacrosse team joining them in 2024. Sullivan arrived on the ‘Cuse strength staff in 2023 after most previously working at Morgan State University, where he closely worked with the football team and men’s and women’s track programs. In addition to his coaching role, he also served as a performance coach at Edgewater Fitness where he implemented training programs for individuals and team clients. From 2021-2023, Sullivan was an assistant strength coach at Stevenson University working with 17 of the Mustangs’ athletic teams. Prior to that he worked closely for all in-season training and conditioning programs for Team Maryland Ice Hockey’s Under-15, U16, and U18 teams in addition to assisting with daily duties with the Washington Pride U14, U16, and U19 women’s ice hockey teams from the fall 2019 to winter 2022. While working towards his four college degrees, Sullivan held various position at the University of Maryland and Salisbury University, serving as a volunteer intern, graduate assistant and collegiate intern.  Sullivan is active himself in the weight room and trains for his own health and athletic activities such as distance running and bow hunting while balancing the rigors of the competing collegiate and professional coaching schedules. He is an avid lifter and enjoys archery, running, and lawn care when he is not training in the weight room.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 33m
  6. #155 - Aaron Potoshnik

    FEB 24

    #155 - Aaron Potoshnik

    Aaron Potoshnik is a Strength and Nutrition Coach working in corporate wellness in the tech industry. Potoshnik stepped into remote coaching and the private sector in 2023 following a long stint in collegiate athletics. With his own business in Alpha Performance, Potoshnik works 1-on-1 online to help individuals create a lifestyle to transform their bodies and find strength in their own skin with individualized strength and nutrition coaching. Prior to his current role he was the director of football athletic performance at San Jose State University from 2021-2023 after being promoted from lead assistant with Spartans in 2019-2020. He arrived at SJSU after two years as the assistant director of strength & conditioning at Northwestern State University working with multiple teams in addition to football. Potoshnik started his career as an intern coach at his alma mater, Washington State University in 2014 where he also spent time as an exercise physiology and performance laboratory research assistant in 2015. Additionally, he served as an intern coach at the University of Washington in 2016 before accepting a graduate assistant coach role at Northwestern State University from 2016-2017.  Potoshnik is no stranger to competitive athletics himself and is an avid lifter enjoying getting outside in nature to hike during his spare time away from the weight room. He competed in Olympic weightlifter for eight years before stepping into powerlifting and now training and competing in bodybuilding.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 41m
  7. #154 - Alex Dee

    FEB 10

    #154 - Alex Dee

    Alex Dee is an Assistant Sports Performance Coach at the University of Illinois Chicago where he oversees the training for the baseball, track & field/cross country, and swimming programs. Joining the Flames in summer 2025, Dee previously spent the last two year as an assistant director of sports performance at Wichita State University where he worked directly with the baseball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis programs. Dee joined the Shockers staff in 2023 after spending the previous two seasons in a similar capacity at Oral Roberts University. He has had multiple stops early in his career as an intern coach at the University of Denver in 2021, Clemson University with the Olympic staff in 2020, Marquette University in 2019 and his alma mater, the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018.  A former college baseball player at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is active himself in the weight room and continues to train, explore new ideas and methodologies throughout the collegiate year to stay active and better coach his student-athletes.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 5m
  8. #153 - Matt Rodriguez

    JAN 27

    #153 - Matt Rodriguez

    Matt Rodriguez is the Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Sacred Heart University. He returned to SHU in 2022 where he directly oversees all aspects of sports performance for both men’s basketball and men’s lacrosse, and assists with the football program. Rodriguez first served as a graduate assistant strength coach at Sacred Heart from 2016-2018 where his responsibilities included baseball, women’s rugby, track and field throwers, bowling, equestrian, and cheerleading as well as assisting with football and men’s basketball. Before returning to SHU, Rodriguez was the Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head of Baseball Sports Performance at Campbell University from 2018-2022 where he helped propel the CU baseball team to reach three Big South Conference Championships that led to three straight NCAA Regional appearances, in addition to having trained 11 MLB draft picks including three first-rounders. He also coached the Camels track and field throwers and assisted with the football program. Rodriguez got his start coaching at Top Speed Performance School in Pennsylvania in 2012 while completing his undergrad degree. He spent four years coaching in the private sector before stepping into the collegiate space as an intern at the University of Pennsylvania from 2015-2016. A former college athlete, Rodriguez was as an infielder on the Montclair State University baseball team. Rodriguez is still very active himself in the weight room and trains 5-6x per week while balancing the rigors of the collegiate coaching schedule. He is an avid lifter and enjoys traveling with his wife when he is not training in the weight room. He has previously competed in Olympic weightlifting.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 35m
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5
out of 5
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About

The Strength Game is a weekly podcast dedicated to discussing all things physical culture with the coaches, athletes, iron enthusiasts, and experts deeply imbedded in the strength game on both sides of the profession; as coaches and as competitive athletes. Hosted by Nick O’Brien, each episode we discuss, rant and dive deep into all things related to strength and conditioning, high performance and training lifestyle. Join us in The Strength Game!

Information

  • Creator
    Nick O'Brien
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Strength Game
  • Show Website
    The Strength Game

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