
The Dan John Podcast
Conversations on strength, health, fitness, life, coaching, and anything else that comes up.Dan John has spent his life with one foot in the world of lifting and throwing, and the other foot in academia. An All-American discus thrower, Dan has also competed at the highest levels of Olympic lifting, Highland Games and the Weight Pentathlon, an event in which he holds the American record.Dan has written 14 books and has been coaching for over 40 years. He is a wealth of knowledge and is happy to share it freely.
Latest episodes

Jul 3, 2025 • 50min
EP 306 - Strength Standards, ABC, Humane Burpee, Beginner Program for 50+, Snatch Test & More
00:00 - Intro01:01 - Staying Snatch-Test Ready at 40s08:47 - Best Beginner Program for 50+ Years Old15:44 - Best Mattress Options for Athletes Over 5017:53 - Best Way to Train for Strength and Muscle After 5024:02 - Standards for the Humane Burpee29:06 - Strength Standards for Athletes 34:27 - Dan John on Slow Reps and Pauses in Strength Training39:17 - The Best Way to Progress in ABC43:17 - Doing Easy Strength Long Term47:20 - Dan’s Workshops in Utah ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

Jun 26, 2025 • 54min
EP 305 - ABF, Combining Single & Double KB, Beginner Program, Easy Strength, Bench Press
00:00 - Intro00:43 - Best Lower Body Training for Tall Guys05:50 - ABF vs. Traditional Body Part Split11:41 - Rotating ABF and Easy Strength18:22 - Combining Single and Double Kettlebell ABC24:36 - Programming for a Whole Year After 6031:01 - Hitting a 32kg Press PR with Dan’s Rep Scheme33:27 - Dan John on Sleep and Meditation Practices42:25 - Best Beginner Program for 55+44:36 - Balancing Strength and Endurance with Lower-Rep Work48:43 - Best Bench Press Alternatives ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

Jun 19, 2025 • 1h 9min
EP 304 - Best Routine After 50, ABC, Explosive Training, Overhead Press, Easy Meals & More
00:00 - Intro00:42 - Doing ABC Long Term?!09:15 - Best Routine After 5019:01 - Building a Big Overhead Press by Age 3027:03 - Why Some Movements Feel Strong and Others Don’t35:01 - Using Chains for Strength Training and Longevity40:08 - Easy Meals for Busy People46:20 - Morning vs Afternoon Training for Strength Gains51:07 - Dan John on Coaching Your Own Kids56:36 - Adding Explosive Training into Your Routine01:01:24 - The Best Way to Get Stronger After 60 ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

Jun 12, 2025 • 35min
EP 303 - Strength Standards, Presses & Carries, Building Strength, Beginner Tips & More
00:00 - Intro00:37 - Determining Strength Standards for Athletes16:09 - Best Manual Labor Backgrounds for Building Strength20:18 - Adding More Pull Movements to Simple Programs25:51 - Learning Movement Techniques Safely with Light Weights31:04 - Presses and Carries for Endurance Athletes in Season ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

Jun 5, 2025 • 57min
EP 302 - Minimalist Program, MMS, KB Snatch, Summer Program, Mobility Work, Loaded Carries
00:00 - Intro01:37 - Going Easier on Your Joints After 30?07:58 - Press Progression Options in ABF12:04 - Adding Isometrics to Your Program17:01 - Most Efficient Way of Doing Mobility Work25:03 - Minimalist Program for Glutes and Half-Bodyweight Press31:34 - Minimalist Program for Strong Legs35:37 - Best Summer Program38:19 - Using the Kettlebell Floor Press for Easy Strength41:31 - Replacing Squats with Loaded Carries?45:08 - Mass Made Simple with Kettlebells for Bodybuilding50:02 - Improving Your Kettlebell Snatch ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

May 29, 2025 • 49min
EP 301 - Park Bench Program, Easy Strength, Sleep, Barbell vs. Kettlebell ABF, Curls & More
00:00 - Intro00:36 - Park Bench FAT LOSS Program with the 24KG Kettlebell11:20 - Combining Easy Strength with “Bro Split”19:10 - Dan John on Training for Real World Strength26:59 - The Effect of Program Switches on Athlete Development37:07 - Dan John on Sleeping 12 Hours a Day Challenge44:04 - Barbell vs. Kettlebell ABF46:19 - Doing Curls for ABF ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

May 22, 2025 • 1h 46min
EP 300 - Interview + Combining Strength & Endurance, Getting Stronger, ABF, Loaded Carries
00:00 - Intro02:21 - Best Way to Add Suitcase Carries to ABF Without Overdoing It10:40 - Dan John on the Evolutionary "Why" of Muscle Hypertrophy18:06 - Best Way to Build Muscle Without Compromising Daily Energy22:25 - Combining Strength & Endurance for 50-Year-Olds26:52 - Things Dan Misses About Pre-Internet Lifting Culture37:51 - Interview with Brian Intro39:40 - What Did Dan Learn About Himself After 300 Episodes?46:50 - How Does Dan Stop People from Quitting?51:29 - How Did Dan Teach Himself to Act Patient?01:00:17 - Dan John’s Origin Story01:06:59 - Dan’s Perspective on Why Does Fitness Matter?01:12:05 - Dan John on The Pressure to Chase Extreme Lifting Results?01:18:47 - Do Heavy Workouts Still Give Dan a Buzz?01:21:10 - How Does Getting Stronger Change People?01:27:52 - Why Is Strongman More Meaningful Than Bodybuilding?01:32:13 - How Does Dan Set Goals?01:36:51 - Which Non-Fitness Book Shaped Dan’s Coaching Most? ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

May 15, 2025 • 56min
EP 299 - Best Strength Program, Squats, Easy Strength ABF, Strength Standards, & More
00:00 - Intro01:24 - Doing Squats for Getting Stronger?!10:15 - Tracking Progress in Subjective Fields18:49 - Strength Standards for ABC & The Press Challenge23:41 - ABF with 2,3,5,10 Rep Scheme27:13 - Dan John's Favorite Version of The Sword in the Stone31:58 - Adapting Armor Building Formula to Your Busy Schedule38:17 - Alternating Exercises in Easy Strength42:02 - Best Short Workouts for Busy and Tired People46:03 - Best Strength Program for Athletes Over 50 ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

May 8, 2025 • 31min
EP 298 - Using KBs Without Ballistics, 10k Swing Challenge, ABF, Trap Bar Deadlifts & More
00:00 - Intro00:39 - Best Ways to Use the Landmine for Presses04:26 - Becoming a Trainer After 6012:09 - Modifying the 10k Swing Challenge15:56 - Armor Building Formula for Runners19:40 - Using Kettlebells Without Ballistics24:28 - Trap Bar Deadlift for Lifters Over 60 ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.

May 1, 2025 • 52min
EP 297 - Superhero Training Program, Squats, Minimalist Workout, Increasing KB Weight
00:00 - Intro01:07 - Superhero Training Program by Dan John14:15 - Best Training for a 49-Year-Old Fireman26:01 - Adding Cardio to Perfect Workout33:32 - Increasing Kettlebell Weight on ABC39:26 - Dan John’s Favorite Shoes44:19 - Doing Squats with Bad Mobility or Injury49:09 - One Lift a Day with Just Three Lifts? ► Personalized workouts based on your schedule, ability, and equipment options. http://www.DanJohnUniversity.com. ► If you're interested in getting coached by Dan personally, go to http://DanJohnInnerCircle.com to apply for his private coaching group. ► Go to ArmorBuildingFormula.com to get Dan's latest book.