
The Robbie Bourke Podcast
Performance, health, learning, creativity, mastery.
Interviews and conversations with leaders in their respected fields.
Latest episodes

Apr 29, 2023 • 1h 18min
Episode 268: Joel Smith - Evolution of a training system
This episode see's the return of Joel Smith from Just Fly Sports.
Joel Smith, MS, CSCS is a NCAA Division I Strength Coach working in the PAC12 conference. He has been a track and field jumper and javelin thrower, track coach, strength coach, personal trainer, researcher, writer and lecturer in his 8 years in the professional field. His degrees in exercise science have been earned from Cedarville University in 2006 (BA) and Wisconsin LaCrosse (MS) in 2008. Prior to California, Joel was a track coach, strength coach and lecturer at Wilmington College of Ohio. During Joel’s coaching tenure at Wilmington, he guided 8 athletes to NCAA All-American performances including a national champion in the women’s 55m dash. In 2011, Joel started Just Fly Sports with Jake Clark in an effort to bring relevant training information to the everyday coach and athlete. Aside from the NSCA, Joel is certified through USA Track and Field and his hope is to bridge the gap between understandable theory and current coaching practices.
On this episode Joel and I discuss:
Joel's current training model/system
This was a great discussion with Joel and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Twitter - @JustFlySports
Facebook - Joel Smith
Instagram - justflysports
Podcasts Mentioned:
Just Fly Sports Podcast #249: Angus Bradley on Best Squatting Practices, True Posterior Chain Training, and Managing the “Soccer Ball in Your Ribs”
Just Fly Sports Podcast #289: Angus Bradley on Squatting, Delayed Knee Extension and Foot Dynamics in Athletic Movement
Just Fly Sports Podcast #345: Nick DiMarco on Speed, Specificity, and Maximizing What Matters in American Football Preparation
Books mentioned:
Mechanical Low Back Pain: Perspectives in Functional Anatomy
The Way of the Superior Man
Speed Strength
People and Resources Mentioned:
DB Hammer (No one knows who this person really was)
Jay Schroeder
Dan Fichter
Chris Korfist
Adarian Barr
Cal Dietz
Gary Ward
Christian Thibaudeau
Paul Cater
Michael Zweifel
Charlie Francis
Mike Boyle
Shirley Sahrmann
Angus Bradley
Mike Stone
Greg Haff
John Kiely
Moshe Feldenkrais
DJ Murakami
Alex Effer
Bill Hartman
Katie St. Clair
Nick DiMarco
Julien Pineau
Nikola Tesla
Ken Clark
Mladen Jovanović
Tudor Bompa
Anatoliy Bondarchuk
Frans Bosch
Nick Garcia
Martin Bingisser
Yuri Verkhoshansky
Nick Winkelman
Neilo Moura
Boris Sheiko
Pavel Tsatsouline
David Grey
Elastic Essentials Course
Al Vermeil
ALTIS

Mar 30, 2023 • 1h 39min
Episode 267: Rua Gilna - life, professional development, pain, movement, and PRI
This episode's guest is my long time friend Rua Gilna from Bua Fitness.
Rua Gilna has over 14 years of experience in the Fitness Industry in roles ranging from training elite level athletes, training the average Joe, managing prestigious gyms, consulting in difficult injury rehab cases and leading education for teams of 30+ trainers to designing and lecturing on Europe's highest level training certification courses.
Rua is constantly studying cutting edge training and rehabilitation techniques as well as consulting with and for other rehab professionals in the New York City Area. He regularly teaches seminars for fitness professionals on integration of rehab principles and injury prevention.
He has a background in martial arts, gymnastics, breakdancing and yoga among other things. His passion for helping people stems from his own journey through fitness and the confidence it gave him and his desire to help as many people live life pain free and to the fullest.
On this episode Rua and I discuss:
Rua's background
Rua's experience with PRI
We talk relative motion and orientation
Rua talks about his experience of when Ron Hruska put an appliance in his mouth, and the sensory impact this had on him
We discuss dental appliances
I ask Rua, if he could invite 5 people to dinner, dead or alive, who would he invite and why?
This was a great discussion with Rua and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Twitter - @RuaGilna
Facebook - Rua Gilna
Instagram - thebiomechanist
LinkedIn - Rua Gilna
Podcasts Mentioned:
DGR Podcast #50: Rua Gilna on concussions, craniums, and PRI
Fractal Biomechanics - Listen, Learn, Leverage #2: Losing your loved ones, mental health, making a statement and much more, with Rua Gilna
People and Resources Mentioned:
David Grey
Postural Restoration Institute (PRI)
Ron Hruska
PRI Primary courses
Gary Cook
Kelly Starrett
Bill Hartman
Michelle Boland
Pat Davidson
Jennifer Poulin
Boyle's Law
Frans Bosch
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Charles Poliquin
Howard Hindin
James Anderson
Mike Cantrell
Aleena Kanner
Hruska Clinic - Recommended Shoe List
Daniella Rutner
Sean Light
Dalai Lama
Abraham Lincoln
Shirley Sahrmann
Mable Todd

Feb 27, 2023 • 1h 10min
Episode 266: Pat Davidson - Healing and growing from life’s traumas
On this episode Pat and I discuss:
The last 2 years of Pat's life
What's next?
This was a great discussion with Pat and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Twitter - @dr_patdavidson
Facebook - Pat Davidson
Instagram - Pat Davidson
Podcasts Mentioned:
The Self Made Podcast Actions speak louder than words with Pat Davidson
Books Mentioned:
It - Stephen King
The Body Keeps the score
What happened to you
The Trauma of everyday life
Behave
Thinking fast and slow
Polyvagal Theory
Candide
People and Resources Mentioned:
Robert Sapolsky
Socrates

Jan 29, 2023 • 1h 30min
Episode 265: Matt Tometz - Speed development and load-velocity profiling
This episode's guest is Matt Tometz.
Matt is a sport science coordinator/sports performance coach at TC Boost Sports Performance in Northbrook, Illinois. With a speed development background and a fascination for data, it’s his daily challenge to combine the art of coaching with the science of data for his athletes of all ages and sports. Outside the facility, Matt creates educational content for coaches and professionals, including his podcast “The Talking Shop Podcast.”
Find him on Instagram and Twitter @CoachBigToe, his YouTube channel and LinkedIn “Matt Tometz,” and his email matthew.tometz@gmail.com.
On this episode Matt and I discuss:
Matt's background
Matt's influences
Matt's training system
Speed development and load-velocity profiling
Profiling athletes at TC Boost
The business model at TC Boost
I ask how does Matt learn?
I ask Matt, if he could learn from 3 people for a week, dead or alive, who would he want to learn from and why?
This was a great discussion with Matt and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Twitter - @CoachBigToe
Facebook - Matt Tometz
Instagram - coachbigtoe
LinkedIn - Matt Tometz
YouTube - Matt Tometz
Podcasts Mentioned:
ATSW Episode 263: Pete Burridge - building a speed development model in professional Rugby
The Talking Shop Podcast
The Art of Pitching 009: Kyle Boddy - The Driveline Journey
Bertcast #334 - Dane Cook & ME
Bertcast #487 - Dane Cook & ME
Bertcast #539 - Dane Cook & ME
Articles Mentioned:
Load-Velocity Profiling on the 1080 Sprint: Everything You Need to Know
Where Is Max Power in Sprinting?
People and Resources Mentioned:
ALTIS
Derek Hansen
Charlie Francis
Chris Korfist
Cal Dietz
Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR)
Eric Cressey
TC Boost
Steve Breitenstein
Al Vermeil
Pete Burridge
1080 sprint
JB Morin
Matt Cross
Mike Boyle
Jesus
Buddha
Dane Cook
Kyle Boddy
Abraham Lincoln
Martin Luther King Jr
Mahatma Gandhi
Barack Obama
Joseph Chilton Pearce
Tupac Shakur
David Grey

Dec 29, 2022 • 1h 4min
Episode 264: Paul Kilgannon - The CRAVER Coaching Framework
In this episode, Paul Kilgannon, Coach and Athlete Mentor, discusses his 'CARVER Coaching Framework' and the positive holistic approach to coaching. Topics include journaling, structuring coaching development in Ireland, and learning from influential individuals. They also explore the power of support and encouragement, the influence of environment on behavior, and the expansion of the coaching framework.

Nov 28, 2022 • 1h 40min
Episode 263: Pete Burridge - building a speed development model in professional Rugby
This episode's guest is Pete Burridge.
Pete is a First Team Athletic Performance Coach at Bristol Bears and heads up the speed training element of their program.
He joined the Bears after six seasons working with Leicester Tigers, having previously spent time coaching at Leicester City FC and at Exeter University. He holds a degree in Sport & Exercise Science from Loughborough University.
On this episode Pete and I discuss:
Pete's background
Pete's Influences
Pete's model for speed and agility development
I ask Pete about monitoring kinematics
I ask Pete about agility development
I ask Pete about his pre-season microcycle set up
This was a great discussion with Pete and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Twitter - @peteburridge
Podcasts Mentioned:
Physical Preparation Podcast - Alex Natera on Athletic Assessments, Isometric Training, and Repeat Power Ability
Pacey Performance Podcast #403 - Peter Weyand
People and Resources Mentioned:
Alex Natera
Stuart McGill
ALTIS
Frans Bosch
Nick Wickelman
Alex Martin
Kevin Geary
Matt Reeves
Joe DeFranco
Eric Cressey
Stu Phillips
Brad Schoenfeld
JB Morin
Prue Cormie
Rob Netwon
Jonas Dodoo
Les Spellman
Michael Zweifel
Anthony Allen
Brett Deacon
Jamie Taylor
Johan Lahti
James Wild
A spreadsheet for Sprint acceleration Force-Velocity-Power profiling - JB Morin
Tom Cruise
The Last Samurai
On Form App
Superimpose App
Peter Weyand
Patrick Mahomes
Shawn Myszka
Loren Landow
Al Vermeil
Mike Boyle

Oct 30, 2022 • 2h 23min
Episode 262: David Grey - Models, business, and learning
This episode's guest is David Grey.
David is the CEO of David Grey Rehab.
Originally an athlete himself, he was plagued with pain and injuries, and became very frustrated with the traditional “solutions” that were being offered.
Deciding to take matters into his own hands, David spent over 10 years travelling the world, learning from some of the best minds in the industry.
It became very clear to him that the traditional rehab model of isolated stretching and strengthening was a very poor and inefficient way of helping people.
David has developed his own unique method of helping people with their pain and movement, and he now works with clients from all walks of life.
He regularly rehabs some of the the best athletes in the world, has delivered workshops and seminars internationally, and regularly consults with top Coaches & Therapists to help them get even better results with their own clients.
On this episode David and I discuss:
David's background
What is David's model?
Assessment
Prescription of split squats
Frans Bosch's influence on David
David's learning process
Biggest lessons David have learn so far in his life
Business advice
What David does to unwind?
What does David's typical day look like?
David's top resources for coaches and rehabilitation specialists
If David could spend a week learning from 3 individuals who would he choose to learn from and why?
What's next for David Gray Rehab?
This was a great discussion with David and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Website - davidgreyrehab.com
Facebook - David Grey Rehab
Instagram - davidgreyrehab
YouTube - David Grey Rehab
Upcoming Workshops from DGR - 2022 & 23:
Sweden - November 19-20th 2022
Melbourne - February 4-5th 2023
Sydney - 11-12th 2023
Books Mentioned:
The Four Agreements
Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation 3e
Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
Basic Biomechanics
Principles of Anatomy and Physiology 16th edition - Gerard J. Tortora (Author), Bryan H. Derrickson
Strength Training and Co-ordination
Video's Mentioned:
Plyo Swing- Westside-Barbell
Podcasts Mentioned:
Joe Rogan Experience #1109 - Matthew Walker
DGR Podcast - #13 Matt McInnes Watson on Plyometrics
People and Resources Mentioned:
Gary Ward
Ido Portal
Postural Restoration Institute (PRI)
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) - National Training Centre (NTC)
Setanta College
Dave O'Sullivan
Frans Bosch
David Weck
Albert Einstein
Kate Veale
Bill Hartman
John Kiely
Mike Boyle
MVP Shuttle
Louie Simmons
Max Schmarzo
Ben Patrick (knees over toes)
Yuri Verkhoshansky
Charles Poliquin
Raymond Verheijen
Newell's theory of constraints
Charlies Francis
Dr. Antoliy Bondarchuk
James "The Thinker" Smith
Jim Kwik
Tim Ferriss
Dave Asprey
Joseph Chilton Pearce
Occam's razor
Warren Buffett
Danny Lennon
Dan Harris
Mattew Walker
Paul Chek
Gary Gray
Matt McInnes Watson
Yosef Johnson - Ultimate Athletes Concepts
Tony Robbins
Tiger Woods
Marcus Aurelius
Ryan Holiday
Joel Smith
Patrick Ward

Sep 28, 2022 • 53min
Episode 261: Brendon Rearick - Communication, coaching longevity, fatherhood, and learning
This episode's guest is Brendon Rearick.
Brendon Rearick is a husband, father, strength coach, public speaker, teacher, business owner, ice cream lover, and bookworm. Beyond the labels, his purpose for living is: to make exercise the number one prescribed drug in the world, to spread the positive by-products of movement & coaching as far as he can, and to Collect Moments, Not Things. Any decision he faces is put up against these values; and if it doesn’t align, he doesn’t do it.
Because life's not about what we have, but who we share it with.
On this episode Brendon and I discuss:
Brendon's background
Brendon's thoughts on communication as a coach
I ask Brendon how he improved his communication skills?
We discuss coaching burnout
We discuss fatherhood
I ask how Brendon Learns?
This was a great discussion with Brendon and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Website - www.brendonrearick.com
Facebook - Brendon Rearick
Twitter - @BrendonRearick
Instagram - coachbrendonrearick
Books Mentioned:
Coaching Rules: A How-to Manual for a Successful Career in Strength and Fitness
Supertraining
The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal
People and Resources Mentioned:
Mike Boyle
Kevin Carr
T-Nation
Dan John
Eric Cressey
Jim Wendler
Nicole Rodriguez
Steve Bunker
Bob Hansen
Dan Campbell
Mel Siff
Art of Coaching - Brett Bartholomew
Fit to Speak - Jenny Rearick
Toastmasters
Thomas Plummber
Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC)
Stu McMillan
Anthony Donskov
Tony Robbins
Joe Ehrmann
Jas Randhawa
John Boyd - OODA Loop

Aug 30, 2022 • 1h 13min
Episode 260: Anthony Donskov - Coaching, training models, and learning
This episode's guest is Anthony Donskov.
Anthony Donskov is the founder and head performance coach at Donskov Strength and Conditioning. He’s also the author of two books; Physical Preparation for Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical solutions, and The Gain, Go, Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players.
Anthony hold's an undergraduate degree from Miami University, Ohio, a Masters Degree in Exercise Science from The California University, PA, and PhD in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Western University, London, Ontario.
On this episode Anthony and I discuss:
Anthony's background?
What was Anthony's PhD dissertation in?
Why did Anthony go from a business education to a career in strength and conditioning
Anthony's biggest influences?
Why is Anthony a coach?
I ask Anthony about coaching burn-out
Anthony's shares with us his training model
I ask Anthony about elastic-reactive strength development with ice-hockey players
How does Anthony Learn?
Anthony's top and current book recommendations
If Anthony could invite 5 people to dinner, dead or alive, who would he invite and why?
This was a great discussion with Anthony and I hope you guys really enjoy it.
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Website - donskovsc.com
Facebook - Anthony Donskov
Twitter - @AnthonyDonskov
Instagram - anthonydonskov
Podcasts Mentioned:
The Pinnacle Performance Podcast 2. Q&A - My Story, Top 3 Things Young Coaches can do to Get Ahead, Building a Business, & Biggest Mistakes of my Career
ATSW - Episode 55: Interview with Buddy Morris
Renegades: Born in the USA
Books Mentioned:
Physical Preparation for Ice Hockey
The Gain, Go, Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players
Force: The Biomechanics of Training
The Tyranny of Metrics
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics
Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach
Man's Search for Meaning
People and Resources Mentioned:
The High Performance Hockey MasterClass
Westside Barbell
Mike Boyle
EXOS
Conor Harris
Chris Poulin
Jen Poulin
John McMahon
St. Mary's University - MSc Strength and Conditioning
Dan Dalrymple
Fergus Connolly
Dan Pfaff
Brett Bartholomew
Joe "House" Kenn
Hawkin Dynamics
Devan McConnell
Jim Reeves
Anatoliy Bondarchuk
Derek Evely
Martin Bissinger
James "The Thinker" Smith
Yuri Verkhoshansky
Frans Bosch
Charlie Francis
Buddy Morris
Stu McMillan
Karl Popper
Tupac Shakur
Bruce Springsteen
Dan Cleather
Aaron Haspel

Jul 30, 2022 • 55min
Episode 259: Tim Caron - Influences, training system, and strength deficit
This episode's guest is Tim Caron.
Tim is the head coach at Allegiate. Tim's last stop before Allegiate was as head strength and conditioning coach for football at Army West Point. He served in that role for three seasons, the final of which Army defeated Navy for the first time in fifteen years. Prior to that, Tim was an associate strength coach at USC where he was in charge of swimming and diving, and assisted with football. He was directly in charge of nutrition, return to play, and the football’s internship program.
On this episode Tim and I discuss:
Tim's background?
Tim's influences
I ask Tim about his training system
Why did Tim write "Strength Deficit"
This was a great discussion with Tim and I hope you guys really enjoy it
Stay Strong,
RB
Show Notes:
Website - Coach Tim Caron
Instagram - coachtimcaron
Podcasts Mentioned:
Performance Health Podcast
How I Built This - NPR
Books Mentioned:
Strength Deficit
Anti-Fragile
Good to Great
American Caesars
People and Resources Mentioned:
Mark Kilgallon (No internet contact information)
Tim Mullen
Craig Fitzgerald
Eric Ciano
Neal Peduzzi
Aaron Ausmus
Noel Durfey
Bobby Knight
Mike Boyle
Charles Poliquin
Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s
Stu McMillan
Charlie Francis
Bill Hartman
Isaac Newton
Abraham Lincoln
Charles Darwin
Robert Hooke