The 18STRONG Podcast

Here at 18Strong, we are all about breaking down the body mechanics and physical aspects of golf to the perfect the swing, but sometimes it’s important to put down the scorecards, stop measuring the launch angles, and remember to have fun with the game and reflect on the lighter side of golf. You’ve probably heard me talking about Skratch on the podcast and hopefully have checked out some of the videos and content they have created. They are a social first, digital content business engaging the millennial-minded golf fan with entertaining videos and other content that promotes and highlights the fun side of golf. They are changing the way that we watch and engage with the PGA tour, players on the tour, and golf as a whole, which is why I brought on Evan Kamer, Vice President and General Manager at Skratch, to talk on the “untucked” side of golf and remembering that this is a game we love and enjoy, and we can have fun with it. Evan Kamer and Skratch’s Background Evan is the Vice President and General Manager of Skratch at the PGA TOUR. Skratch is a social-first digital content business engaging the millennial-minded golf fan with entertaining videos and other content that promotes and highlights the fun side of golf. Prior to joining the PGA TOUR, Evan was the Vice President of Partnerships for Competitor Group Inc. where he brought national partnerships to the active lifestyle media and events company. Evan previously served as Vice President of League Relations and Partnerships at USA TODAY’s Sports Media Group where he helped sign multi-year deals worth over $15 Million with the PGA TOUR, NASCAR, Churchill Downs, UFC and broadcasters such as NBC Sports, Spike, and The Golf Channel. Prior to USA TODAY, Evan was the Chief Operating Officer and a co-founder of the sports digital start-up Big League Sports, where he managed day-to-day operations and sales, helped raise over $20 Million in investment and make eight corporate acquisitions. Evan was the Senior Director of business development for the National Football League from 1998 – 2005 where he helped close a range of innovative technology-based partnerships with Sprint, AOL, Sirius XM, Apple among others in total value in excess of $1 Billion. Evan was also a founding employee of ABOUT.com where he was the Director of Business Development and managed acquisition and retention activities as well as generated revenue through marketing and distribution partnerships. Evan has an MBA in Marketing from the Stern School of Business at NYU and a Bachelors of Science in Information Systems from the State University of New York at Albany. Highlights from this Episode Evan talks on the conception and growth of Skratch and their mission and goal to redefine the stereotypical golf audience to the younger fans and players with content like tour highlights, using professional players, and lifestyle content. Their core belief that they aren’t trying to change the habits of their viewers by directing them to a different feed or website, but rather they place their content across multiple social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube to make it accessible for their growing audience base. He breaks down the business model, the target audience they find watching their content, and the idea of branded content being featured in their content rather than running constant ads. He boils down the creative process that goes into creating their original content, the teams they have working around the U.S, and how they keep their content exciting without going for “Shock value” or a cheap laugh and balancing their work with the players on the tour and their take on Skratch. The new projects they have coming up like The Adventures in Golf Season 3 coming out this summer, a second season of Orchestrating the Tour which dives into the behind the scenes look at the business of making the tour happen. Parting Questions Caddy Shack of Happy Gilmore?  Caddy Shack What’s your walk-up song?” Boombastic by Shaggy 18 holes with anyone, who and where?  President Obama at Whistling Straits What has you most excited for the future?   Continuing to evolve with our audience and retaining our authenticity and communication Find out more and follow Skratch and Evan at: Skratchtv.com Twitter Instagram Facebook Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

It’s rare that I meet a golfer who doesn’t currently struggle or haven’t struggled in the past with some sort of back pain and discomfort. Athletes, strength coaches, and trainers can all agree that no matter the sport, a healthy back and spine is a crucial component to optimal performance. Our balance, speed, power, mobility, coordination and every other physical requirement for golf are directly linked to good spine health, which is why this week, our special guest is Dr. Stuart McGill. Dr. McGill is one of the pioneers in back/spine performance research with hundreds of studies published in peer-reviewed journals and has restored several golfers’ careers that were debilitated by back pain.  In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of the back, Dr. McGill’s impression of how golfers are and should be training, common causes of back pain, and what steps can you take to not only eliminate this pain but prepare and train your back. Dr. Stuart McGill’s Background Stuart McGill was a Professor of Spine Biomechanics at the University of Waterloo for over 32 years, authored of over 240 scientific journal papers, 5 books, and has mentored over 40 graduate students during this scientific journey. As a professor for 32 years, the research in the Spine Biomechanics Laboratory had three objectives: to understand how the low back functions; to understand how it becomes injured; and, knowing this, formulate and investigate hypotheses related to prevention of injury and optimal rehabilitation of the injured back, and ultimate performance of the athletic back. As a consultant, he has provided expertise on low back injury to various government agencies, many corporations and legal firms and hundreds of professional/international athletes and teams worldwide. He is regularly referred special patient cases from the international medical community. Dr. McGill is the founder of BackFitPro.com, which is the primary hub of his most current content and materials. Highlights from this Episode McGill kicks off the episode diving into what he does and how his love for back performance research began. One of his great joys is working with the elite athletes and “watching the whip unfold” to analyzing how mechanically defined they are. What he has seen working with athletes that suffer from back pain and the effect it has on both the “hardware” and “software” of a golfer’s mechanics. He dives into worrying issues he sees in golf that are reaching a biological tipping point: up to a point they are beneficial but too much can be detrimental. He touches on how he wouldn’t consider golfers “strength” or “power” athletes, but rather “elastic athletes,” in that mobility is key to a good golf game. He defines what the fundamentals of an elastic athlete and a run through of his assessment. Specific workout and training health tips, such as the difference between high force-low velocity, low force-high velocity workouts and what they look like and how adding a lot of resistance to rotation is a very detrimental idea. What to look for and steps you can take to maintain a healthy spine. He talks about his book “The Back Mechanic”, written for the lay public which he says was harder to write than his many textbooks for clinicians. Parting Questions Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore?  Caddy Shack What would your “walk-up song” be? be? Nothing! 18 holes with anyone. Who and Where? Donald Trump, Michael Jordan or Mohammed Ali at Muskoka Golf Course What has you most excited now?  I still love the puzzles I get presented with and the problems I get to solve through my super athlete clients. Any last piece of advice?  I’d listen to my wife. Sources mentioned: The Back Mechanic The New Science of Golf 18STRONG Mobility May on Instagram   Find out more and follow BackFitPro and Dr. Stuart McGill at: Backfitpro.com Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode Sponsors SuperSpeed Golf Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

If you’ve been a long time listener of 18Strong, you’ve most likely heard me talk about SuperSpeed Golf and the amazing results both professional and amateur players are seeing in their clubhead speed, distance, and overall mechanics after using the SSG system. The concept of “overspeed training” is unlike your traditional power or strength training, but it also doesn’t fall into the category of golf skills training. Today you’ll see why the SuperSpeed Golf system is in a completely different category, which is exactly why it is creating results at both the amateur and elite levels. In today’s episode founders, Kyle Shay and Mike Napoleon, join us to answer some of the questions we’ve received recently about the system and to share what’s next for SuperSpeed Golf. SuperSpeed Golf’s Background SuperSpeed Golf works with many of the best players in the world and amateurs of all skill levels. They offer many services including comprehensive on-going coaching services, personalized game assessment and program development, distance learning, corporate experiences, and many more customizable programs. Michael Napoleon, President, and Founder of SuperSpeed Golf, is inspired by the belief that all golfers can achieve more enjoyment from the game by enhancing their performance. Michael is in constant search for the newest and best ways to help golfers improve. Michael continues to coach in the Chicago area and across the US with his team at Catalyst Golf Performance and is PGA and TPI Certified. Kyle Shay, C.E.O., and Founder of SuperSpeed Golf, grew up playing golf since a very early age. Inspired by his father’s passion for the game, he would tag along to the shag range to hit balls with him. This passion developed into playing competitive golf through college and then into a career of fitness and rehab coaching with an emphasis on golf-specific conditioning. Kyle currently runs the Catalyst Golf Performance Health and Fitness division along with running his own health coaching business and is CHEK IV and TPI Certified. The Superspeed Program focus’ on: Power specific swing mechanics Driver impact conditions and ball flight with the TrackMan Launch Monitor System 3D Biomechanics and energy transfer Optimizing the fit of your driver Orthopedic joint mobility screening Stability, balance, coordination, and movement patterns Strength and Power assessment Highlights from this Episode  They kick off the episode talking about how most players, elite or otherwise, don’t spend time on speed training in terms of the golf swing, which is part of the reason so many golfers get a benefit from the SuperSpeed Golf system and we see over 100 PGA professionals utilizing the product. What their testing process for perfecting the SuperSpeed system looks like, how they track everything from swing speed before and after using the different weighted clubs and the 3D biometrics of the kinematics of the swing and compile all of this data to show improvement. They address common questions they get from users of the SuperSpeed system and how more doesn’t always mean faster when it comes to improvement. Unlike Strength or Mobility workouts, Speed training is taxing on your mind and using the clubs every day can lead to neural fatigue that can only hurt your training. Using the SuperSpeed Clubs as a Power Tool vs. a Conditioning tool and how to see your results as quickly as possible without running into that neural fatigue. Being a more rotational power sport, Golf is a cross-breed of power and mobility and the SuperSpeed Clubs mean to both bring out your strengths, as well as the weaknesses you have to work towards. Mike answers some of the questions the 18Strong community had on Kneeling swings (why we do them, are they safe for the back, and what stance is best) and non-dominant swing training. They also talk about if there is plateauing in SuperSpeed training: What that looks like, the different “tiers” they see in improvement, and what the timeline looks like. What the future holds for SuperSpeed Golf as far as new programs, online training, and some reworking of their initial introduction training details. Parting Questions What’s your Walk-up Song? Mike: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor Kyle: Beverly Hills by Weezer Find out more and follow SuperSpeed Golf at: Superspeedgolf.com Twitter Instagram Facebook Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

When it comes down to it, a fitness coach is a dime a dozen right? What do these different specialties matter and why is it so important for a fitness professional to know your game? Does that specialization to your specific sport really make a difference? Whether you are an athlete looking for a strength coach or fitness professionals looking to expand your client base, you are going to have to ask yourself these questions which is why I brought on Trevor Anderson, a fitness trainer, and coach and multi-faceted athlete in a number of sports, to answer these very questions. Trevor Anderson’s Background Trevor Anderson, CSCS (T.A.) is the Owner and Founder of Better Every Day®.  He is a renowned Performance Educator and a Multi-Sport Performance Expert. Strategically located at Better Every Day® headquarters in Central Florida, Trevor coaches and mentors the youth, and educates teachers and trainers. His experiences as a professional athlete, and as a performance trainer and educator for professionals and amateurs in various sports, have shaped his career with practical and applied experience. Trevor Anderson, CSCS is originally from Sarasota, Florida, and a 1999 graduate of the University of Central Florida. A multi-sport athlete, he played professional football for three years, and is one of the pioneers of the popular extreme basketball sport SlamBall, competing in the first International Slamball tournament in China, winning the Championship and achieving MVP Honors! T.A. has been training and coaching in the fitness industry for over 20 years, gathering experience and learning from the best coaches, training the best athletes, and working with many of the top companies in the industry. His multi-sport and multi-modality approach keep his sessions interesting and educational, as well as challenging enough to get the best out of each athlete and client. His qualifications include, but are not limited to: NSCA –Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Under Armour – Master Performance Trainer / Brand Ambassador / Director of Golf Performance / UA Training Team, TRX – Master Instructor, USA Track & Field – Level One Certified Track Coach, SPRI – Master Instructor, and The Leadbetter Golf Academy – Golf Performance Expert and Consultant Highlights from this Episode Trevor kicks off the episode talking about how he transitioned from an athlete focused on self-betterment to a trainer to help others achieve their goals and ultimately owning his own business. He explains Slamball (extreme basketball with trampolines,) and how it was an integral part of his growth as an athlete and a coach. How the name of his business, Better Every Day®, got it’s meaning and how he conceptualizes it in training his golfers. A fraction of improvement can be the difference in the turnout of a game when you are working and playing at professional levels. We talk about how as fitness professionals, you have to understand your strengths as well as other coaches strengths in terms of how you define your career and position, as well as the importance of being able to speak the game to your athletes (both pro and amateur.) He brings up great points like how raw strength doesn’t correlate to being a better golfer; it’s about understanding the movements necessary for you. He talks on his process with his athletes: How he thinks of himself as a how/why instructor, the importance of asking the questions to internalize the understanding rather than swinging through the motions, and how he just tries to make the best better. He hits on his key factors he hits on; Flexibility, Stability, Mobility, and Coordination, and how he believes these are universal across all athletes and sports. Parting Questions . . . Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore? Happy Gilmore Walk-up song for the first tee box? So Fresh, So Clean by Outkast 18 holes with anyone in the world: Who and Where? Barrack Obama and Bandon Dunes What has you most excited for the future? My opportunities to expand our facility and working with my incredible partners Any last advice for the 18Strong Community?  Face your obstacles. “Do it Tired and Do it Scared!” Jump headfirst into those challenges, you don’t fail you only learn. Where to find Trevor Anderson and Better Every Day: Bettereveryday.me Twitter Instagram Facebook Links to the tools Trevor mentioned: Probar TRX 30% off the Probar Mobility (Use code “TA30”) Probar Mobility (CLICK HERE!) Episode Sponsors SuperSpeed Golf Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

We’ve been talking a lot about the importance of power, strength, and physical endurance in your golf game, but our guest, David MacKenzie knows that those components only make up a piece of the equation. Applying those physical abilities takes control and mental fortitude, which in themselves, need to be a prt of your training regimen. David MacKenzie is the founder Golf State of Mind, one of the most well-read and highly regarded mental game blogs, and is a highly sought after mental game and performance coach. From amateur to pro, his one-on-one coaching program teaches mental toughness, emotional control, and how to focus on what’s important to maximize their chance of success. David MacKenzie’s Background David MacKenzie is a Mental Coach and the founder of Golf State of Mind. He currently works with golfers on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, European Tour, Challenge Tour, LPGA and LET, along with many elite juniors and amateur golfers of all levels. Throughout David’s playing career, he learned quickly how attitude, self-belief, focus and mental toughness affect performance in golf. He knew that was the major difference between his average and great rounds. But the question was how did one improve these valuable skills and achieve “the zone” more often? While studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, David began in-depth research into sports psychology and how elite performers apply their minds to practice and play. He interviewed hundreds of elite golfers and sports psychologists. He shared what he discovered via his website, “Golf State of Mind”, and it quickly resonated with golfers of all levels. Golf State of Mind is now the most popular resource for mental coaching for golf on the web. David now has 10 years experience working as a mental coach for golf. David was able to effectively communicate the mental and emotional process that elite players are able to achieve on the course which helps them succeed. Although there are fundamentals to his approach, all players are different in what they need to focus on during a round and how they process their experience. For this reason, the Golf State of Mind is a player-centric approach that finds the best process for each individual. David’s mental coaching system is taught one on one (in person or remotely), in clinics, and via his mental game training products. The system develops mental toughness, improves emotional control and teaches golfers how to stay focused on what’s most important to maximize their chance of success. Highlights from this Episode David kicks off the episode by talking about both the evolution of Golf State of Mind since the last time he was on, how as Golf Mental fitness as a concept has grown to be more accepted and utilized, who he sees using it and who he thinks could gain benefits from implementing this into their game, and what his program looks like from beginning to end. How the most common mental mistake that he comes across is the overemphasis on results, expectation, and the pressure that comes with that. When you redefine what a successful round looks like (from just aiming for a low score to feeling good about how you are executing key factors), everything comes together and it sets you up for more long-term success. He talks on problems he notices with the way people practice and how to practice with more purpose and intent like dividing practice time more sensibly, keeping stats on how you are performing, and leaving the ego at the door. We talk on how to set mental game goals and what that looks like for David when he is working with his clients: How present you stayed in between shots, how well you accepted negative outcomes, nutrition, hydration, and core strategy are aspects of your game that are in your control. What David recommends we look at and reflect on before we take a long shot, on the green, and after the shot to help keep us in the present during our golf game and help detach the emotions from it. Parting Questions . . . Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore?  Caddy Shack What is your walk-up song? Anything by Eminem 18holes with anyone in the world; who and where? Tiger Woods Where to find David MacKenzie: GolfStateofMind.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Free Resources from David! David was Kind enough to put together some free resources for the 18STRONG community!  You can find them at https://golfstateofmind.com/18strong   Episode Sponsors RADRoller.com Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

Power. Almost every golfer I have worked with, at one time or another, has asked “how can I hit the ball farther?” or “how can I get more distance?” And in most instances, it leads back to being more powerful. From amateur to professional, power is an integral part of progressing your golf game, which is why today I’ve brought on Brad Thompson from Elevate Sports Performance and Chiropractic. Based out of Nevada, Brad is going to walk us through their process of testing for power, training for power, the factors to hitting a ball farther, and why it is so important in your quest to play better golf. Brad Thompson’s Background Brad Thompson is not only a performance coach but also a former competitive golfer, which gives him the edge to know both sides of the coin. Brad’s Certifications include NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, TPI Level 2 Fitness, Junior, and Power Coach, Functional Movement Screen Level 1, USAW Level 1 Weightlifting Coach, StrongFirst Level 1 Kettlebell Instructor, Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist, and Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Coach. Brad participates in golf tournaments and long-drive competitions. When he’s not training or golfing, he spends the rest of his time with his family—girlfriend Sanoe and daughter Rya. Highlights from this Episode Brad kicks the episode off by talking about what he does at Elevate and the benefits of having a chiropractor in-house, as well as the difference between mobility and stability issues he sees and how many times when we are looking for flexibility it’s not our hips physically can’t turn that extra 20 degrees, we just don’t have full control of that aspect of our movement yet. The lessons he learned from competing in long-drive and how he applies that personal experience in working with his clients on a day-to-day basis. This ranges from what the major components of swing technique and training that determine how far you can hit a ball. Differentiating between strength and power. How they are often used synonymously despite the big difference, how to train those separately, and when to train for power versus strength. The formula you can use at home for measuring your power output to give you a better understanding of where your power is and isn’t. This also helps you realize where you are more dominant: Upper body or lower body. Brad’s favorite exercises and tools to use when focusing on power training and his philosophy of keeping it simple: from kettlebell swings, weighted jumps, and dumbbell snatches. He also talks about balancing out mobility with power and strength training to keep the workout well-rounded, and prerequisites Brad looks for before trying these with his clients. Parting Questions . . . Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore?  Caddy Shack “Walk-Up” Song:   Hate Me Now by Nas Who would you play 18 holes with?  Ben Hogan at Augusta Last Piece of Advice?    Get assessed, figure out your weak points, and attack them. Find more on Brad Thompson and Elevate Sports Performance and Chiropractic at: Elevatespc.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Episode Sponsors SuperSpeed Golf Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

Have you ever been watching golf and seen pros like Justin Rose, Adam Scott, and Lydia Ko on the green getting ready to putt and you see them do the same kind of ritual (walking between the ball and the cup, rocking back and forth, closing their eyes, putting two fingers in the air) and then they drain the putt! Today we are talking to Mark Sweeney, the creator of the AimPoint Golf putting system, that over 100 of these touring professionals are using, where he is going to break down exactly what it consists of, how you can use it, and how you can take it into your game. So often when we get to the green, we are trying to get the lay of the land and it can be all over the place but Mark brings his background as a software engineer into the world of golf and helps players be able to strategically read greens. Mark Sweeney’s Background Mark Sweeney is the inventor and founder of AimPoint Technologies. He developed the AimPoint Virtual Putting Line and is the developer of the AimPoint Green Reading System; the most used green-reading method in the world. He won an Emmy in 2008 for the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award for his AimPoint Virtual Putting Line, which was shown on Golf Channel from 2007 until 2012. He has taught more than 100 tour players including World #1 Ranked players Adam Scott, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, and Yani Tseng. Other students include PGA TOUR players Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Brian Gay, Dicky Pride, Zach Johnson, Daniel Summerhays, JB Holmes, and LPGA Tour Players Na Yeon Choi, Amy Yang, Christina Kim, Julie Inkster, Beatrice Recari, Azahara Munoz, Belen Mozo, Anna Norqvist, and many others. Mark was voted one of the Best Teachers in Florida and nominated for Golf Digest Best 50 Teachers in the U.S. in 2015 and 2017. Highlights from this Episode Mark Sweeney talks about his background in software development allowed him to develop, analyze, create, and perfect his AimPoint system from both theoretical and applicable standpoints. From the initial challenges of getting 3D imaging of the topography of golf greens (with limited technology back in 2003,) getting the physics just right, and the pressure to get it right the first time. How being forced to simplify this technique snowballed into implementing his findings with junior players using the thumb technique to gauge distance and break. He talks about how the method works due to its reliability and resiliency on courses around the world. Tips and tricks you can begin to use next time you go out on the course to best understand the slope using a digital leveler and the finger method, Overcoming the optical illusions that come with your sense of sight and relying on your sense of feel, and what results you can expect from it. What his clinics look like for players as well as certification programs for coaches and golf professionals and how to set up a clinic in your area. Mark explains why the range of 4-6 feet putts are usually the most uncomfortable and are likely the most crucial to spend time perfecting. Parting Questions . . . Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore?  Caddy Shack “Walk-up” Song?  Thunderstruck by AC/DC Who would you play 18 Holes with:   Scarlett Johansen at Augusta What are the pros doing differently than us?  Their aim is always within 1 degree and they tend to be more relaxed. Parting advice:  Putting is a lot easier than people think if you understand how to read greens. It will transform your putting game if you know what to look for. Find Mark Sweeney: Website:  AimPointGolf.com Twitter:  @AimPointGolf Instagram: @aimpointgolf Episode Sponsors RADRoller.com Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

When we go out and start a new fitness program, diet, practice program, we are ultimately trying to change our behaviors. This boils down to the habits we create on a daily basis and what we can stick to, which is why I’m excited to have my personal friend Dr. Kara Graziano O’Leary, Ph.D on today. Dr. O’Leary, is a clinical psychologist with a research background in social psychology and neuropsychology and she joins me today to talk about clinically what is working the best and how we can relate her background to what we are seeing in the fitness world and what you are personally experiencing during your trials and tribulations of trying to obtain your goals. We cover everything from the importance of sleep, how to best stack your goals, creating habits, and the idea of “decision fatigue.” Dr. Kara Graziano O’Leary’s Background Her training includes a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from Long Island University in clinical psychology. Her professional experience includes work at the New York State Psychiatric Institute with Bradley S. Peterson and Andrew Gerber on brain and behavior research in relation to impulse control disorders, especially substance use and eating disorders. Previously, she worked in the Bay Area as a counselor for sexual assault survivors and later for homeless families at San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury Free Clinics.  Upon moving to St. Louis, she continued her work in the field of eating disorders at Washington University, serving as a family therapist with Denise Wilfley’s interpersonal psychotherapy-based study on weight loss. She later completed her clinical psychology internship and post-doctoral training at the St. Louis Veterans Administration Medical Center, and now practices at the St. Louis Veterans Administration Mental Health Clinic, working with veterans recovering from a wide range of diagnoses, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, eating and substance use disorders. Her practice focuses on integrating psychology research to help patients with behavior change. She is a member of the VA’s Cultural Competency Council and serves as the Diversity Specialist for its Training Council. Highlights from this Episode  Kara dives into the science of sleep, how she approaches sleep with different patients, and  how to start taking steps towards implementing good sleep habits. From charting your sleep to defining a “natural sleep rhythm,” Kara goes into detail on not only the importance of sleep but also how we can start to treat it differently. So often we set goals we really want to achieve (be it personal or fitness related,) but often struggle to achieve them. Dr. O’Leary shares insights from Daniel Kahneman, often called the father of “Behavioral Economics,” about how we experience life through two different lenses: The Experiencing Self (moment to moment in daily life) and The Remembering Self (Orders and Catalogues the day in retrospect.) Using this model, she explains how we tend to over-value our shortcomings and failures and undervalue our success’ and small victories. The importance of starting small when setting goals. We tend to try and shoot for the moon when setting an objective to reach, but always end up kicking ourselves when we naturally fall short. The importance of keeping your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.) How to balance thinking positively and not being too hard on yourself, with being realistic in attaining goals. Tips and tricks to fighting “Decision Fatigue,” the idea that throughout the day the many decisions we make drain us mentally leading us to make impulsive decisions or to avoid goals altogether. She provides some tips to help us reinforce our intentions and achieve our goals. Things like having healthy alternatives on hand, leaving bigger decisions for the morning, and letting your brain rest at night, and tackling your most important goal after being well rested. Parting Questions . . . Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore?  Happy Gilmore What is your “walk-up”  song?  Respect by Aretha Franklin If you could play golf with anyone in the world, who would it be and where would you play? Barack and Michelle Obama and it wouldn’t matter where. Any parting advice for the 18Strong Community? All the things that are getting in your way of achieving your goals are completely normal, and it’s important to have self-compassion. The data doesn’t support being tough on you in making sustainable and lasting changes. Episode Sponsors SuperSpeed Golf Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

When it comes to fitness and training tailored to the female athlete, many health professionals are still in dark. If you (like me) think that fitness for golfers is still in its infancy stages, then today’s topic is still just in the womb! Janet Alexander is the perfect guest to have on to teach us how the female golfer should be training, how their workouts should be dictated by their body, and how planning their workouts appropriately can dramatically improve the effectiveness in areas such as accelerated fat loss, prevent injury, strength, and power development. Janet is a 35-year veteran of the health and fitness industry and co-owner of Pacific Fitness and Health, Inc. a private studio in Encinitas, California. Janet’s disciplined, and scientifically based approach to strength and conditioning has helped mold her into a knowledgeable and sought after fitness professional and has allowed her to work with a wide range of athletes in a variety of sports. Pacific Fitness and Health and Janet’s progressive and pioneering program design has not only culminated in wins on the professional golf tours, but also has resulted in good hormonal health for her stable of female athletes. Janet Alexander’s Background She is an instructor for the Titleist Performance Janet & Dr. Greg Rose Institute Certification course (Level 3 Fitness), is T.P.I. Certified, has appeared on the Golf Channel with Dr. Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, founders of the Titleist Performance Institute speaking on fitness for females and sits on the Titleist Advisory Board as a member of the Fitness & Exercise Board. Not one to rest on her past academic achievements in the field of physical education and sports science, Janet has now chosen to extend her knowledge base further and is currently studying Osteopathy -Soma Training and Soma Therapy, two three year programs under the guidance of internationally recognized French Osteopath DO, Physiotherapist and Doctorate of Medicine Dr. Guy Voyer. Her fresh yet focused, holistic approach to wellness and health has also been used to her own advantage as a successful competitive age group triathlete, runner, cyclist and cross-country skier Janet’s Approach: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Highlights from this Episode Janet Alexander kicks off the episode sharing about how she flipped from fitness to the corporate world, ultimately ended at fitness to build her client base and business and how she first got into golf in 1998. Why there isn’t a lot of direction as to how to work specifically with female golfers when it comes to strength training and physical preparedness as opposed to “just going and lifting weights like the guys.” The important questions her female athletes come to her with, as pertaining to their workout regiment, and the questions female athletes should be asking their trainers. She also dives into the challenge of fighting body image issues when working with junior athletes and diets. Janet talks about how to design programs for female athletes once you check and clear all the different health boxes (e.g. diet, a regular menstrual cycle, hormonally balanced,) and what regiments to do at what time to optimize performance output and minimize injury based on the female anatomy. She gives advice to the male trainers working with female athletes on what to think about and how to approach touchy/taboo topics. Parting Questions . . . Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore? Caddy Shack If you could pick a walk up song for the first tee box, what would it be?Thunderstruck by AC/DC If you could play golf with anyone in the world, who would it be and where would you play?  I would play Alice Cooper or Danny Devito at St. Andrews Any parting advice for the 18Strong Community? Remember that for every female athlete, your menstrual cycle is an indication of your overall health and for you to be able to be passionate about your sport, if the wheels are falling off, there’s a reason. Where to find Janet Alexander: Pacific Fitness and Health Janet’s Facebook Page Join our private facebook page The 18STRONG Movement to connect with Janet and many other guests from the show! **Janet also created a special private group to specifically address questions you might have about the topics of today’s show: Her28  This group is meant to be an open and safe forum to ask those questions that you might not be willing to ask anywhere else!** Episode Sponsors RADRoller.com Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!  

Dr. Melvin Deese and Evan Hugall from Imapct Cryotherapy join us this week to discuss the surge of increased use of a relatively new technology (cryosaunas/cryochambers) that has evolved from an age old practice; crypotherapy. In recent years, cryotherapy chambers have been studied and used to help treat issues of inflammation and recovery amongst general population clients and athletes alike.  As of recently, there have been noted very possible benefits of the modality not just for rehabilitative and preventative use, but also for enhanced performance in the training room, sports fields, and yes, most importantly, the golf course. In this episode, Dr. Dees and Evan help us understand the technology/modality better and share how golfers at all levels are using it in attempt to lower scores. Background: Impact Cryotherapy, Dr. Deese, and Evan Hugall Dr. Deese Dr. Deese serves as the Medical Director of Impact Cryotherapy and is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and foot and ankle specialist. He has worked and trained with some of the most notable sports medicine specialists in the world and has cared for patients and treat sports injuries from the professional and collegiate ranks to high school and recreational athletes. His ground-breaking research on calcaneocuboid ligament sprain has drawn national and international attention. Throughout his career as an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Deese has been committed to seeking new and innovative means to improve the health and lifestyles of patients and athletes at large. That interest in improving performance and enhancing lives drew him to Impact Cryotherapy. Now, blending his vast knowledge of biometrics and our natural recuperative abilities, he serves as a crucial checkpoint for ongoing product development. Dr. Deese is also the founder of Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery and has extensive experience in treating sports injuries and rehabilitation. Evan Hugall Senior Sales Specialist at Impact One of the core team who launched Impact Cryotherapy, Evan Hugall has now administered 20,000+ cryosauna sessions and is a total pro at putting first-timers at ease. Having seen so many life-changing moments since the beginning, Evan’s top desire for the company is to see Impact cryosaunas helping people all around the world. Impact Cryotherapy The success of Impact Cryotherapy is noteworthy. In the short life of the company, Impact Cryotherapy has become the leading manufacturer and seller of cryosaunas in the US, having sold 360+ units in 39 states and 7 foreign countries. No other cryosauna or cryochamber manufacture or distributor has earned the ETL Mark for their entire product line. No other U.S. cryosauna or cryochamber manufacture or distributor has earned the CE Marking. Highlights from this Episode Evan and Dr. Melvin kick off the episode by defining cryotherapy, clearing up misconceptions about the difference between the advanced chambers they have and just “putting something on ice,” as well as what makes Impact Cryo stand out in the field of physical therapy. The effects, benefits, and integration of this form of therapy into the golf world, and how professional golfers like Jordan Spieth are utilizing this to advance their game. Evan talks about the range of use in the different types of facilities they have set up their system with; from wellness and physical therapy facilities to fitness centers and massage and spa facilities, the range of uses can benefit any athlete in recovering faster and stronger than before. Deese goes into standard protocol when using the chambers when people start to see/feel the benefits, and what is the optimal usage. Redefining how we objectively measure inflammation to show how we can tell the difference by using this technology. Be sure to check out Impact Cryotherapy at the links below to learn more: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Episode Sponsors SuperSpeed Golf Golf Fitness Rollercoaster If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!