
LTB Podcast
The Lift the Bar Podcast is a place where personal trainers can gain education, insight and knowledge from other personal trainers. It's aim is to provide personal trainers with the know-how and inspiration to build the kind of career they want to build.
Every week the show will feature interviews with fantastic guests who are at the top of their game in different areas specific to helping personal trainers.
Latest episodes

Dec 24, 2020 • 1h 1min
Reflections on 2020 w/ Alex Pearson
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes back on Alex Pearson. They go straight into a conversation about some of the things they've done well, not done as well and learnt from 2020. The framework they use is based on James Clear's Yearly reviews available on his website. Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Dec 21, 2020 • 56min
Cathy MacDonald: Stories From a Career in Suicide Intervention
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes back on Cathy MacDonald. Cathy has been on the show 2 times before (both in 2017) discussing different things related to her current career in communication. Her career prior to that was in Crisis Negotiation for Police Scotland and that's where we focus our attention today. We discuss what her work involved, some of the specific cases she remembers being involved in, what she wishes everyone knew about suicide and what to do if you encounter a situation in which someone is saying they are going to, or are thinking about, taking their own life. Timestamps: [02.40] - What it's like reflecting on her previous career as a crisis negotiator for Police Scotland now she's 5 years beyond it? [07.57] - What the majority of her work was in crisis negotiation? [10.27] - How she would describe how she felt walking into a negotiation of some kind? [19.20] - Cathy tells us about one of the memories she has over losing someone during a suicide intervention. [21.50] - How quickly Cathy would be redeployed after one negotiation? [23.05] - Specific cases that stick out during her time in crisis negotiation? [34.00] - How often you learn the reason someone wants to kill themselves? [35.35] - The core emotional concerns. [38.25] - What does Cathy wish everyone knew about suicide? [45.57] - Suicide statistics deaths in Scotland. [51.00] - What to do if you encounter a situation in which someone is saying they are going to commit suicide? [53.50] - Where to go if you need help. Suicide Resources International Suicide Hotlines: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/ NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/ Find Out More About Cathy: Website: https://www.artofcommunication.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Art-Of-Communication-1126742237340516 Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Dec 14, 2020 • 46min
Gregg Slater: Hypertrophy And The Science of Programme Design
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes LTBs head of education, Gregg Slater. Gregg has just created 50 lesson course called hypertrophy: the science of programme design. In this conversation, we cover what he's learned in the creation of the course, why hypertrophy is for everyone, what he hopes to see in the research over the coming years, how to start planning out long term programming, why the psychology of programme design is as important as the physical and how he would approach a career in PT if he was starting tomorrow. Timestamps: [01.33] - How would Gregg approach a career in personal training just now? [02.53] - How would he approach building relationships with potential clients? [07.53] - Why he finds personal training mentally draining? [09.03] - Why hypertrophy is for everyone. [12.18] - Why PTs should talk more about how great resistance training is for everyone. [14.13] - Has he changed his mind on anything with regards to hypertrophy training? [23.43] - Where does he see the hypertrophy research going? [26.43] - Does he think programming needs to be complicated? [31.53] - How to start mapping out long term programming? [40.13] - How much does he tell his clients when it comes to programming? [41.53] - How to keep programming fun for you as the trainer? Find Out More About Gregg: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregg_ltb/ Hypertrophy course: https://liftthebar.com/courses/hypertrophy/ Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Dec 7, 2020 • 51min
Sophie Carrigill: Creating a More Inclusive World for People With Disabilities
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes Sophie Carrigill. Sophie is a Team GB wheelchair athlete who has won silver medals at both the world and European stage. In the interview, they discuss what she loves about sport, what some of her biggest challenges are living in a wheelchair, the accident that led her to becoming paralysed, misconceptions around disabilities, creating a more inclusive world and more specifically, fitness industry for people who live with disabilities and much more. Timestamps: [01.36] - What Sophie loves about sport? [06.31] - What some of her biggest challenges are living in a wheelchair? [11.31] - Sophie tells Stuart what happened to her 10 years ago. [17.46] - How she got through the period after her accident when she was in so much pain? [20.01] - How she came to terms with having a disability? [26.21] - Misconceptions that able-bodied people have around disabilities? [30.56] - The importance of having conversations around creating a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. [34.11] - A discussion around the fitness industry and being more inclusive towards a community of people who have a disability. [42.41] - Wheelchair basketball. Find Out More About Sophie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophcaz/?hl=en Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Nov 30, 2020 • 1h 3min
Lisa Gimenez-Codd: Parenthood And Working With The Pre/ Postnatal Client
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes Lisa Gimenez Codd. Lisa was one of the first ever guests on the show back in 2017. She's someone that many of the LTB community continue to turn to for advice when working with the female client. In this episode, we discuss parenthood and why they both find it extremely difficult, some misconceptions around pregnancy and the prenatal stage, when to start making changes with a pregnant client, postnatal considerations, getting the pre baby body back and more. If you work with clients who are pregnant or have had kids, you'll pick up a lot in this episode. Timestamps: [02.21] - How Lisa's lockdown experience has been? [05.54] - What does it mean to her to be a parent? [15.41] - Have we grown as an industry with pre/postnatal since we last spoke in 2017? [22.10] - Misconceptions around prenatal. [24.40] - How to have the conversation around 'eating for two' when a client is pregnant? [26.50] - Considerations and questions a trainer should have when a client says they are pregnant? [29.00] - When should we start to make changes around our programming & nutrition advice? [36.01] - Miscarriage and how to help your client. [41.55] - How long does it take before a postnatal client is ready to return? [46.10] - Postnatal considerations. [50.15] - Why breastfeeding may not be as easy as you think for your client. [53.30] - Getting the pre baby body back... [58.50] - The pelvic floor and pregnancies impact on it [60.10] - The menopause. Find Out More About Lisa: Instagram & Facebook: @myoptimumhealth Website: https://www.optimum-health.me.uk/ Anthony Lo: https://physiodetective.com/courses/female-athlete-tfa-2/ Julie Wiebe (core health, diastasis recti): https://www.juliewiebept.com/?s=diastasis+recti Umi Health pre&postnatal: https://www.umi-health.com Returning to running guidelines: https://www.absolute.physio/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/returning-to-running-postnatal-guidelines.pdf Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Nov 23, 2020 • 49min
Jamie Rowland: Working With The Elderly Client, Comparisons & Client Loyalty
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes Jamie Rowland. Jamie is a personal trainer and member of LTB who has been working in the industry for well over 10 years. He specialises in working with the elderly client and runs classes for cardiac rehab and falls prevention. I loved this conversation and I think the way Jamie speaks about his clients speaks to why he's had clients working with him since 2008. We jump around but the main things we discuss are what it's like working with the elderly client, and why you may want to consider working with them, how to move past comparisons and how to develop loyalty in your client base. Timestamps: [05.05] - What his favourite part of being a personal trainer is? [05.55] - What it was like working with a 104 year old client? [07.20] - How he got started in the fitness industry? [16.20] - How he's kept the community feel of his business during lockdown? [18.00] - How he got started working with the elderly client? [20.40] - How he would suggest getting started with the elderly client? [24.15] - His background and how he's feeling about his future in the fitness industry? [28.30] - What he would go back and tell himself at the start of his career? [29.40] - Impostor syndrome/ comparisons. [39.30] - Client loyalty. [40.45] - Does he get bored training the same clients all the time? Find Out More About Jamie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayuk Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Nov 16, 2020 • 51min
Laura Tilt: How to Introduce Mindful Eating to Your Clients
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes Laura Tilt. Laura is a UK registered dietitian and health writer who is fascinated about how food makes us feel, think and live. We discuss all things related to mindful eating - what it is, how to implement it with your clients, if it helps things like emotional eating, some simple steps to get started and much more. Timestamps: [01.55] - How her mini-van transformation is going? [05.40] - What she wishes the general population knew more about nutrition? [08.25] - Why we lose touch with our 'inner wisdom'? [11.50] - Defining mindful eating. [13.40] - Is mindfulness a precursor to mindful eating? [18.15] - Why labelling emotional eating as negative is wrong. [22.20] - Misconceptions around mindful eating/ How Laura came to start using mindful eating in her coaching. [36.30] - 3 tools for starting mindful eating. [45.25] - Surfing the urge/ how to manage cravings. Find Out More About Laura: Instagram Website Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Nov 9, 2020 • 52min
Alex Chapman: Professional Development, Feedback & Building a Coaching Philosophy
In today's episode, Stuart welcomes Alex Chapman. Alex supports people and teams to achieve their personal and collective aspirations across a multitude of settings [including Professional, Olympic & Paralympic sports, education, and business settings] for nearly two decades. Currently a performance lifestyle advisor with the English Institute of Sport and doing some private stuff as an executive/performance coach. In this episode, they discuss some considerations around professional development, a bunch of things around feedback - how to seek it out from your clients and how to best receive it even if it cuts deep. They finish talking about his coaching philosophy. Timestamps: [02.03] - What it was like working for Portsmouth F.C. while they were in the Premier League. [04.02] - What he would tell himself if he could go back to the start of his career? [08.56] - Does he enjoy getting better? {18.15] - A discussion around feedback. [22.20] - Why you should consider introducing a review session into your 1-1 PT client set up. [27.05] - Gaining feedback on your blindspots and creating actions off the back of useful feedback. [30.00] - A process for gaining feedback openly from new clients. [33.35] - Why feedback can be harder to take when it hits your identity. [38.15] - His coaching philosophy. Find Out More About Alex: https://goodthingscoming.co.uk/ Find Out More About LTB: Website Instagram Facebook

Nov 2, 2020 • 58min
Andy Morgan: Structuring Online Coaching Check-Ins & Prioritising Content Creation
Andy Morgan, an online coach and author, discusses his coaching business, including managing client check-ins and setting expectations. They also delve into topics such as the importance of prioritizing content creation, improving communication processes, and book recommendations. Overall, the podcast provides valuable insights into structuring an online coaching business and fostering strong client relationships.

Oct 26, 2020 • 25min
8 Ways to Get More Out of Your Social Media Pages
In today's shorter episode, Stuart discusses LTB's new 30-day social media challenge before getting into 8 ways you can get more of your social media pages. Find Out More About LTB: 30 Day Challenge Website Instagram Facebook