

Purple Patch Podcast
Matt Dixon
Author and Triathlon Coach, Matt Dixon, will empower and educate you to integrate sport into life in order to reach your athletic potential because, it is through the lens of athletic potential, that you reach your human potential.
In addition to topics such as planning your fitness into a time-starved life, the show will provide in-depth interviews, advice, and insight into optimizing your health, work, and life performance, along with the critical habits and approaches that facilitate the success of some of the world's top performers across many disciplines.
In addition to topics such as planning your fitness into a time-starved life, the show will provide in-depth interviews, advice, and insight into optimizing your health, work, and life performance, along with the critical habits and approaches that facilitate the success of some of the world's top performers across many disciplines.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 1min
Win Cycle | From Not Too Late: "Unathletic" To Unstoppable: Gwendolyn Bounds on Reinvention 🔥
IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon hosts Gwendolyn Bounds, author of "Not Too Late," on the Purple Patch podcast as part of the Win Cycle series, which focuses on performance in various aspects of life. Alongside Purple Patch Fitness Co-Founder Kelli McMaster, Gwendolyn shares her journey from an unathletic childhood to becoming a competitive Spartan racer in her 40s. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, commitment, and breaking routines. Gwendolyn discusses the transformative power of obstacle course racing, which improved her health, work performance, and overall life satisfaction. She highlights the significance of community and coaching in her journey. The conversation also touches on the benefits of integrating physical challenges into one's life, regardless of age or current fitness level. If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com. Purple Patch and Episode Resources Learn more about Gwendolyn Bounds and her book, "Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age" at: www.gwendolynbounds.com Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Mar 19, 2025 • 53min
Episode 353: Assess, Reflect, Check-In: The Key to Unlocking Performance
IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon and Purple Patch Coach Max Gering discuss the ARC process: Assess, Reflect, and Check-in. This methodology is integral to the Purple Patch coaching model, emphasizing reflection to drive action and improve performance. They highlight the importance of understanding one's "why" and assessing progress objectively, both in training and life. The conversation underscores the need for intentionality in training, avoiding the "more is better" mindset, and the value of course correction. They also stress the significance of reflection in maintaining motivation, clarity, and commitment and encourage athletes to seek help when needed. If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com. Purple Patch and Episode Resources Train Smarter, Race Faster: IRONMAN & IM 70.3 Success in 8-12 Hours Per Week https://youtu.be/T7RFaM25gVo Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Mar 12, 2025 • 35min
Episode 352: Navigating fear, anxiety and self-doubt for high performance in sport and beyond
IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon hosts the Purple Patch Podcast, focusing on integrating sport into busy lives and overcoming performance anxiety. He introduces a free webinar on preparing for triathlons with limited time, emphasizing the importance of mindset. Dixon shares a case study of an athlete named Kate, who experienced self-doubt and underperformance due to outcome anxiety. He outlines five strategies to manage fear and self-doubt: reframing fear as a challenge, focusing on the process rather than outcomes, using stress as fuel, building exposure tolerance, and separating thoughts from identity. Dixon encourages athletes to embrace discomfort and train their minds for resilience. If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com Purple Patch and Episode Resources Join Matt Dixon for a FREE Webinar: go.purplepatchfitness.com/trainsmarter Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

7 snips
Mar 5, 2025 • 58min
Episode 351: Go Time! Key Considerations of dialing in your Winter to Spring: From PREP to BUILD
In this discussion, Max Gering, a renowned Purple Patch Coach and expert in IRONMAN training, shares crucial insights on optimizing training for athletes. He highlights common pitfalls like neglecting strength workouts and failing to adjust calorie intake with increasing volume. Emphasizing balance, he advocates for fun in training, stressing its importance for long-term success. The conversation also touches on effective fueling strategies and the need for a positive mindset as athletes transition from off-season to peak competition preparation.

Feb 26, 2025 • 43min
WIN CYCLE by Purple Patch: Getting out of your comfort zone to improve leadership
IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon introduces a new direction for the Purple Patch podcast, focusing on performance in life and work rather than just triathlon. He emphasizes the value of getting out of one's comfort zone, termed "win cycle," and how it applies to both athletes and professionals. Dixon shares stories of clients like Ben Cooper and Carmel Galvin who improved their lives and leadership skills through physical challenges. He outlines ten reasons why business leaders should take on physical challenges, including leading by example, fostering resilience, and enhancing team dynamics. Dixon also highlights the benefits of coaching for accountability and growth. Matt Dixon introduces the new direction of the Purple Patch podcast, focusing on performance in life and work rather than just triathlon. Matt Dixon explains the "Win Cycle" concept, a high-performance corporate program inspired by principles used for world-class athletes. He Announces that the podcast will now feature "Win Cycle" episodes once a month, focusing on broader performance topics like leadership, business, and longevity. Purple Patch and Episode Resources Join Matt Dixon for a FREE Webinar go.purplepatchfitness.com/trainsmarter Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Feb 19, 2025 • 1h
Episode: 350 - The Susie Orcutt Case Study: Lessons in Coaching & Coachability
Matt Dixon hosts the Purple Patch Podcast from the Hawaii IRONMAN training camp, featuring Susie Orcutt, a busy Mother and Physician's Assistant from Atlanta. Susie discusses her journey with Purple Patch, highlighting her coaching relationship with Nancy Clark and the challenges they faced initially. Susie emphasizes the importance of communication and trust in coaching, noting her significant improvements in performance, including winning her age group in an IRONMAN 70.3 and improving her rankings at the 70.3 World Championships. She also credits the team environment and the bike classes for her growth, particularly in bike handling and fueling strategies. Susie advises athletes to define their goals and be open to feedback clearly. Susie explains her decision to join Purple Patch after outgrowing her previous coaching relationship, focusing on longevity and avoiding injuries. Susie's journey involved multiple conversations with different coaches to find the right fit, emphasizing the importance of finding a coach who sees potential in her. The relationship evolved, with Susie learning to adjust workouts based on her feelings and not just metrics, fostering a more holistic approach to training. If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com. Purple Patch and Episode Resources Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Feb 12, 2025 • 50min
Episode 349: Love, Sport, and the Art of Integration: A Purple Patch Valentine's Special
A fresh new format featuring a coaching conversation with Host Matt Dixon and Co-Host Max Gering. This Valentine's Day, we explore how athletes can integrate sport into life in a way that strengthens relationships rather than strains them—because true performance isn't just about results, it's about the bigger picture. IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon and Purple Patch Coach Max Gering discuss the importance of integrating sport into life sustainably, especially for athletes with busy schedules. They emphasize the need for effective training that fits within one's life, rather than overloading with long rides every weekend. They highlight the significance of communication with partners and family, planning together, and ensuring sport enhances life rather than compromising it. Practical tips include the "Sunday special" for reflection and planning, and making training a family activity. They stress that consistent, effective training over time leads to better performance and overall well-being, rather than focusing solely on training hours. If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com. Purple Patch and Episode Resources Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Feb 5, 2025 • 57min
Episode 348: Mastering Performance with Panos Kakoullis on Endurance, Leadership, and Growth
IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon interviews Panos Kakoullis, a long-time Purple Patch athlete, at the Hawaii IRONMAN training camp. From Boardroom to Finish Line—Listen to Panos Kakoullis on Balancing High-Stakes Leadership with Elite-Level Endurance Performance. Panos shares his Greek Cypriot background, growing up above a fish and chip shop, and his journey from becoming an accountant, later Senior Partner at Deloitte to CFO at Rolls Royce. He discusses his transition from powerlifting to endurance sports, influenced by his wife, and his 16 IRONMAN completions. Panos emphasizes the importance of consistency, recovery, and integrating sport into life. He highlights the role of curiosity, growth mindset, and releasing mental weight in his success. Looking ahead, he plans more marathons and a cycling trip across Italy. Panos reflects on the challenges and successes in his professional life, including the importance of integrating sport into his busy schedule. Panos recounts how he and his wife decided to do a marathon and then a triathlon, despite initially swearing never to do an IRONMAN. He emphasizes the importance of consistency over heroism and the need to prioritize recovery and nutrition. Matt and Panos wrap up the conversation, with Matt expressing his admiration for Panos' journey and achievements If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com. Purple Patch and Episode Resources Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Jan 29, 2025 • 59min
Episode 347: Beyond the Finish Line: Winning As A Triathlete in 2025 Part 4
IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon concludes a four-part series on winning at triathlon in 2025, emphasizing the importance of defining success, embracing the journey, and adopting a high-flex integration mindset. He highlights key strategies such as choosing races that align with strengths and weaknesses, avoiding common pitfalls like under-fueling and over-reliance on FTP, and prioritizing sleep and consistent strength training. Dixon also shares insights from a Purple Patch athlete, Dave Pray, who emphasizes the broader impact of endurance sports on health and longevity. Dixon explains how Pray and his focus on cycling and participation in the Purple Patch program has fueled his success and performance in triathlon and life. He emphasizes the importance of a high VO2 max for longevity and health, and how his training and social life are intertwined. Matt Dixon explains the importance of defining success and embracing the journey, emphasizing that athletes should not live to race but live through the process. Matt Dixon advises athletes to choose races that align with their strengths and weaknesses, rather than just selecting races based on location or convenience. He lists 10 common pitfalls that athletes make, starting with the check-the-box mindset and the obsession with outcomes. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to apply these lessons and engage with the Purple Patch community. If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com. Purple Patch and Episode Resources Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Jan 22, 2025 • 47min
Episode 346: Beyond the Finish Line: Winning as a Triathlete in 2025 - Part 3
In Part 3 of Beyond the Finish Line: Winning as a Triathlete in 2025, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon from Purple Patch Fitness discusses his high-performance coaching approach, emphasizing a team-based methodology that has helped over 1,500 athletes qualify for world championships. Their coaching includes remote sessions with real-time feedback and ongoing education. Dixon outlines five principles for success: focusing on daily actions rather than outcomes, keeping things simple, responding proactively to challenges, reflecting regularly, and building a supportive team. He uses Stuart, an athlete with ambitious goals, as a case study to illustrate these principles, highlighting Stuart's resilience and adaptability in the face of life's challenges, eventually placing at a podium in triathlon. Apply the five principles discussed (being results-driven but process-focused, keeping things simple, responding vs reacting, practicing reflection, and building a support team) to your own athletic journey in 2025. Matt Dixon explains that great success often comes from what is removed rather than added, emphasizing the importance of simplicity. Matt Dixon discusses the importance of responding proactively to challenges rather than reacting impulsively. He also reviews the cycle of the Purple Patch Method. If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at info@purplepatchfitness.com Purple Patch and Episode Resources Check out our world-class coaching and training options: Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad 1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1 Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com Everything you need to know about our methodology: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com


