

Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates
Andrew Coates
The Lift Free and Diet Hard Podcast dives deep into the science and practice of living a strong, healthy, and intentional life. Hosted by Andrew Coates, the show brings together inspiring guests to share insights, stories, and practical advice that empower listeners to build confidence, make informed choices, and stay resilient in their fitness and wellness journeys. Every episode encourages thoughtful exploration of what it means to lift free, diet hard, and live fully.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 20, 2024 • 49min
EP #304 Mark Young: How I Almost Died, Plus Lessons From Old School Fitness Industry Networks
Mark Young, a veteran in the fitness industry, shares his near-death experience and lessons from the pre-social media era. He discusses the importance of ethics in online fitness marketing, his resilience through a life-threatening medical ordeal, and the significance of muscle mass in health resilience. The podcast also hints at an upcoming fitness event with big names like Jonathan Goodman and Jennifer Van Barn.

Feb 13, 2024 • 46min
EP #303 Dr Natasha Barnes: How to Develop Your Coaching Program Offering, Training for Climbers, and Boundaries vs Responsiveness
Dr Natasha Barnes joins to talk about:
- her work coaching climbing athletes
- important concepts in strength training that coaches should focus on,
- How she runs her online programs and lessons for coaches in developing their own
- Navigating fear of injuries with clients
-Boundaries vs responsiveness
-and much more

Feb 6, 2024 • 48min
EP #302 Andres Vargas: Nutrition, Training, or Both
Should you specialize in nutrition or training, or do both. Andres Vargas provides context and why he offers both for his clients. We also wade into the confusing realm of social media training, and talk about the fundamental that matter and the sensational stuff that doesn't. Plus much more.

Jan 30, 2024 • 48min
EP #301 Tasha Whelan: Generosity and Abundance
Take a lesson from Tasha Whelan's kind, generous, and abundant mindset. Tasha is the consummate cheerleader for friends and peers all while working tirelessly to be successful leader, coach, and educator. Notice how Tasha tries to flip the questions and attention back on me during this fun discussion. We discuss where this comes from, the importance of communication skills, and other notes on continuing education.

Jan 23, 2024 • 46min
EP #300 Sean Madden: The growing popularity of MMA in fitness, training considerations, and coaching a celebrity
Sean Madden joins on a special episode, lifetime #300. Going forward I will officially count all 300, including the original 150 with my good friend Dean Guedo as cohost. Sean talks about:
- the growing popularity of MMA within fitness and in general
-important training considerations for MMA
-coaching a celebrity(someone I personally am a big fan of) listen in to find out who

Jan 17, 2024 • 49min
EP #149 Paul Revelia: The Value of Industry Friends and Going From Solo Coach to Building a Team
Paul Revelia discusses the importance of industry connections and mentors in career development. He shares his journey from solo coach to team building, emphasizing the value of collaboration and inspiration within the fitness community. Revelia highlights the significance of attending industry events, building community, creating authentic content, and navigating the business landscape with genuine impact for growth and success.

Dec 26, 2023 • 47min
EP #148 Shaina Garcia: Pro Coaching
Today I’m joined by Shaina Garcia, an IFBB Pro competitor and coach based in Perth Australia
Today you’re going to get:
-The value of an IFBB pro card and if it’s enough to set you up as a coach
-Why dedication and care for your clients works
-Importance of relatability as a coach
-Dealing with the pressure to maintain a certain look while balancing physical and mental health
-How to encourage a winning mindset with clients
-and more

Dec 19, 2023 • 50min
EP #147 Tom Morrison: Youtube Success, Mobility, and Long Form Media
Today I’m joined by my friend and fellow T-Nation writer Tom Morrison. Tom is a strength and mobility coach from Belfast Northern Ireland who’s seen his YouTube channel grow to half a million. You’ll hear:
Whether YouTube subscribers or instagram followers are more valuable
How to leverage Youtube following
How media growth has changed Tom’s career and life
A breakdown of some important mobility concepts including the difference between active and passive mobility
How to intelligently program variety
The value of getting published on a notable publication vs building your own library of resources.
And more

Dec 12, 2023 • 51min
EP #146 Nick Lambe: Public Speaking Workshop
My friend and prolific public speaker Nicke Lambe returns to talk all things public speaking. We've seen a rise in interest among coaches to speak at events, share their experience and knowledge, and educate within the industry. Nick has worked on ways to teach thee skills to more coaches and presents a lot of insight you can act on right now and further resources to follow up with.
We also tease why you should join us at his event Raise the Bar in Dallas in late February.

Nov 22, 2023 • 45min
EP #145 Steve Kamb: Level Up Your Life, Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Goals, and Augmented Reality in Fitness
Steve Kamb, founder of Nerd Fitness and author of Level Up Your Life, joins as a guest. He talks about how his brand niche found him and his focus on fostering intrinsic vs extrinsic goals. They discuss augmented reality and gamification in fitness.