

Paint The Edges
Pre-Script
Paint The Edges is a podcast that challenges conventional thinking in fitness and performance. Hosted by industry veterans James Macintosh and James Thayer, each episode explores conversations beyond the mainstream, diving deep into the edges of performance, nutrition, business, and education. The show offers practical insights for coaches, athletes, and anyone passionate about human potential, inspiring listeners to think outside the box and push the limits of what's possible
Be sure to follow hosts James Macitosh @coachjamesmac and host James Thayer @thayer2513 on Instagram. For all things education, check out www.pre-script.com.
Be sure to follow hosts James Macitosh @coachjamesmac and host James Thayer @thayer2513 on Instagram. For all things education, check out www.pre-script.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 2, 2025 • 49min
E57: Coaching Under Pressure: Thinking Fast in Dubai
Mac and Thayer dive into the art of adaptive coaching. When quick decisions and creativity can make or break success. Mac shares a behind-the-scenes story from coaching in Dubai, revealing how flexibility, awareness, and fast thinking turned a challenging moment into a win for his client. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ Last chance to register for PSL1. Sign up Now At https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide

Oct 26, 2025 • 50min
E56: Decoding Protein: Truth, Timing, and Training
Mac and Thayer decode the truth behind protein marketing and popular diet trends, revealing how small, informed choices can lead to meaningful results. Through real-world stories and evidence-based insight, they show how understanding nutrition, training, and timing can elevate both performance and everyday health. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ PSL1 Registration is now LIVE. Sign up Now At https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide

36 snips
Oct 19, 2025 • 51min
E55: Why Strength Curves Actually Matter
Dive into the fascinating world of strength curves and resistance profiles! Discover how these concepts can transform your training efficiency and improve performance. Learn to identify muscle positions for maximizing force, address imbalances with unilateral work, and strategically distribute workouts. Get practical programming tips with chest exercise variations that optimize muscular engagement. Embrace simplicity by reducing redundant exercises to enhance your training focus and effectiveness!

Oct 12, 2025 • 50min
E54: The Sensation Effect: How Awareness Shapes Performance and Rehab
In this episode of Paint the Edges, Mac and Thayer examine the consequences of action in exercise and rehabilitation, exploring how movement choices shape performance and recovery. They unpack the role of visual feedback and sensation in navigating movement, breaking down the principles of input and how understanding sensation can refine training, enhance correction, and improve overall movement quality. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ PSL1 Registration is now LIVE. Sign up Now At https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide Road Rage (00:00:00) Pet Peeves and Consequences (00:06:02) Driving Rules and Real-Life Accountability (00:11:04) Punches in the Face and Learning Lessons (00:12:59) Consequences Aren't Always Negative (00:13:47) Exercise Selection as Consequence Management (00:14:54) Rehab Example: Balance Gone Wrong (00:17:10) The Role of Sight and Visual Input (00:20:50) Why Removing Glasses Makes Training Worse (00:28:48) Performance Is the Proxy (00:29:49) Rehab Facilities Ignoring Visual Feedback (00:31:52) Training Is Just Load-Managed Rehab (00:41:04) Visual Input as a Warm-Up Tool (00:42:47) Appropriate Use of Proprioception (00:45:23) Three Questions Every Coach Should Ask (00:49:18)

Oct 5, 2025 • 51min
E53: Small Details That Create Big Training Experiences
In this episode of Paint the Edges, Mac and Thayer explore how professionalism and genuine human connection shape the training experience. They highlight the impact of meaningful interactions, showing how small details and elevated standards can leave a lasting impact on clients and colleagues alike. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ PSL1 Registration is now LIVE. Sign up Now At https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide Cold Open & Intro Chaos (00:00:00) Laptop vs Phone: Speed, Spelling, Autocorrect (00:00:45) South African Texting-While-Driving Confession (00:02:36) Roles on the Pod: Stoke the Fire (00:05:10) Intimidation, Profiling, and Perception (00:07:41) Coaching Optics in Affluent Gyms (00:09:52) Power Dynamics: Don't Tower Over Clients (00:15:36) Be the Ritz: Standards, Amenities, Professionalism (00:20:26) Branding, Consistency, and Building Real-World Network (00:38:04) Small Details Compound (00:50:07)

Sep 28, 2025 • 46min
E52: A Year of Painting The Edges
In this special anniversary episode, hosts Mac and Thayer celebrate a full year of Paint The Edges with 52 episodes in the books. The conversation blends lessons learned from mistakes, personal stories about their fathers, and reflections on a year of dialogue. They highlight the value of strength training, the power of getting back to basics, and the life lessons fitness continues to teach along the way. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ PSL1 Registration is now LIVE. Sign up Now At https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide Intro (00:00:00) Celebrating a Special Episode (00:00:17) Family Competitiveness and Hip Replacements (00:09:17) The Train Tunnel Accident Story (00:11:00) Surviving, Infection, and Hip Replacement (00:15:26) Life Lessons From Risky Situations (00:17:45) Drug Raid Heart Attack Story (00:18:16) One Year of Paint the Edges (00:27:08) Strength, Simplicity, and Coaching Lessons (00:28:28) Painting the Edges as a Metaphor (00:45:08)

Sep 21, 2025 • 49min
E51: How Social Media Skews the Way We Train
Mac and Thayer share their observations on modern gym culture and how social media shapes the way people train. They break down effective training, highlighting stability and hypertrophy while challenging popular methods that often miss the mark. This conversation blends practical coaching insight with a critical look at the trends driving today's fitness industry. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ Last Chance For Our Only Course Discount. https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide Nicotine & Intros (00:00:16) South Africa Water Crisis (00:01:14) The "Stabilize Everything" Crowd (00:07:06) The Absurd Triceps Setup (Bands, Cuffs, Cables) (00:10:59) Foundations First: Stability vs Force & Results (00:16:20) Cuffs = BFR: Acute vs Real Hypertrophy (00:22:13) Skin in the Game: Show Your Work (00:29:17) Bring Back 225 & Barbell Basics (00:38:16) Helen's Life Advice (00:47:00)

Sep 14, 2025 • 47min
E50: Atmospheres That Build Great Gyms
Mac and Thayer dive into the world of gym culture, the struggle of finding quality spaces to the role of design, equipment, and atmosphere in shaping the member experience. They reveal what truly makes a gym thrive from community, cleanliness, and a space people actually want to train in. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ Join the PSL1 Waitlist Now For Our Only Course Discount. https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide Intro (00:00:00) Back in South Africa: Old Driving Habits Return (00:01:56) Family Trips & Falling Into Old Patterns (00:04:53) Can't Find a Good Gym in SA (00:06:06) Attachment Chaos: BYO D-Handles (00:09:12) Trainers: Don't Just "Rent Space", Have a Checklist (00:11:00) Dumbbell Racks: Increments, Placement, Maintenance (00:14:31) Dual Cables First & Why Clean Bathrooms Matter (00:19:57) Avoid Bottlenecks: Duplicate Key Lower-Body Machines (00:27:21) Traffic Flow & A Real Stretching Area = Culture (00:34:10)

Sep 7, 2025 • 54min
E49: Why Overcomplication Is Holding Athletes Back
Mac and Thayer break down the importance of sticking to foundational principles in fitness. They tackle how overcomplication and fear-based tactics derail progress, showing that big results often come from mastering basics. The discussion dives into pattern recognition, load management, and recovery are essentials for both everyday training and competitive performance. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ Join the PSL1 Waitlist Now For Our Only Course Discount. https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide Intro (00:00:00) Simplicity Over Flash (00:00:38) The Basics Solve 95% (00:02:59) Selling Fundamentals & Buy-In (00:04:41) Guru Theater vs Foundations (00:06:38) The "Quad-Dominant" Myth (00:07:39) Ditch Fear-Based Coaching (00:11:10) Build a Coach's Eye (00:14:27) Awareness Precedes Change (00:18:01) Film It, Fix It, Keep It Simple (00:27:18) Comp-Day Back Fix: Bridges & Squeezes (00:33:39) Principles > Sport; Manage Exposure (00:41:15)

Aug 31, 2025 • 50min
E48: The Why Behind Every Rep
Mac and Thayer dig into the importance of deeper thinking in coaching, stressing how understanding the 'why' behind exercise selection and implementation separates high level training from guesswork. They challenge coaches to look past surface solutions and build programs with purpose. https://www.instagram.com/coachjamesmac/ https://www.instagram.com/thayer2513/ Join the PSL1 Waitlist Now For Our Only Course Discount. https://www.pre-script.com/psl1 FREE Coach's Field Guide: https://www.pre-script.com/coachs-field-guide Intro & Setup (00:00:00) The Gym Encounter Story (00:00:43) "Above Average Physique" Fallout (00:04:09) Processing Ego Hits & Identity (00:06:28) Personas, Perceptions & First Impressions (00:13:21) Breaking Industry Stereotypes (00:15:24) Depth Beyond Titles & Trojan Horse Mentality (00:17:27) Coaching as the People Business (00:27:06) Learning From Clients Beyond Fitness (00:28:08) Why Curiosity & Asking "Why" Matters (00:41:13) Ashwagandha, Cortisol & Critical Thinking (00:42:14) Lateral Thinking & Innovation in Coaching (00:46:11)


