
Coach Em Up Podcast
Coach Em Up Podcast is here. Hosted by renown coaches Tim Riley and Zack Zillner, Coach Em Up traverses all things training, performance, gains, and growth. Guests include your favorite coaches, current and former pro athletes, entrepreneurs, and influencers. Everyone can learn something from someone else- and we wanna learn from the best.
Latest episodes

Jul 8, 2025 • 1h 28min
Fitness Brand Identity & Content Strategy with TATUM BRANDT | Ep. 71
Check out Tatum on socials! @tatumbrandt @brandcreative.coHead over to https://VALD.com to request a demo!Code "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comTim Riley hosts Tatum Brandt, founder of Brandt Creative, to discuss effective brand strategy for fitness professionals. Tatum breaks down the fundamentals of personal branding, social media growth, and how to authentically connect with your audience. Discover actionable strategies to develop your brand personality, create engaging content, and scale your products while staying true to your values. Tatum shares her expertise from working with fitness industry clients and her own journey growing her social media presence. This is one you won't want to miss!If you've made it this far in the description and haven't subscribed yet, just go ahead and click the button. Leave a like while you're at it.

Jul 1, 2025 • 1h 24min
Building Texas Football's Elite Athletes & Culture with CORY CASTRO | Ep. 70
Look for Cory on Instagram! @strength_coach_castroHead over to VALD.com to request a demo!Code "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comCheck out Cory's assisted nordics - https://www.instagram.com/p/DKCp45ntvf6/In this episode of Coach 'Em Up, Tim Riley sits down with Cory Castro, a strength coach at the University of Texas' football program, to discuss his journey, philosophy, and insights on coaching elite athletes.Cory shares his path from internships to coaching quarterbacks at Texas, including lessons learned and characteristics of top performers. They dive into the importance of building genuine relationships with athletes, creating a competitive training environment, and maintaining personal accountability. Don't miss Corey's take on training philosophy evolution, balancing career and family, and the definition of mental toughness that has helped shape his coaching approach.While you're here, drop a like and subscribe to the channel! It helps us out a ton and it's totally free! And leave a comment to let us know who you'd like to see on the podcast next!

Jun 24, 2025 • 1h 28min
Blending Neuroscience with Rehab and Training - DR KATIE DABROWSKI | Ep. 69
Check out Katie on socials! @ktdabrowski @oldbullathleticsMiami Code "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comThis week's Coach 'Em Up episode features renowned Physical Therapist and Coach Dr. Katie Dabrowski, who shares the scoop on blending neuroscience, psychology, and strength training for optimal client experiences.Dr. Katie shares her journey from collegiate rowing to becoming a successful PT and business owner at Old Bull Athletics. She discusses how her unique background in neuroscience, psychology, and physical therapy has shaped her coaching approach, emphasizing positive environments and psychological resilience for clients.The episode explores the collaborative relationship between physical therapists and strength coaches, creating better client experiences, and maintaining personal well-being while building a successful practice. Katie also offers insights into her training philosophy of becoming "confusingly jacked at every decade." It's a fun listen!Don't forget to subscribe! It's free and makes us very happy indeed! Plus, Katie said that for every subscriber the podcast gets, an athlete instantly heals their soft tissue injury, so get to it!

Jun 17, 2025 • 1h 38min
NFL Combine Prep and Navigating the S&C Industry with SCOTT SALWASSER | Ep. 68
Check out Scott on socials! @realcoachsalCode "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comThe Coach Em Up Conference is complete! Thank you to everyone who attended - it was a blast! At least I hope it was, I'm writing this before it happened.Welcome to the newest Coach 'Em Up episode, with Tim Riley and guest Scott Salwasser, a strength & conditioning expert currently at working at Exos.Scott shares his journey from being a sports-obsessed kid to becoming a respected S&C coach, with stops at the Oakland Raiders, Sacramento State, Texas Tech, and more. Discover the critical differences between private sector coaching versus team settings, and why your career values should dictate your path.Learn what truly separates elite athletes from average performers, get an inside look at running NFL combine prep programs, and hear Scott's evolution in training philosophy, including his approach to Olympic lifts and new industry technology.Don't forget to subscribe! It helps us out a lot and it's totally free!

5 snips
Jun 10, 2025 • 1h 20min
BLAINE MCCONNELL Q&A on Sprinting, Programming, Athleticism, and more! | Ep. 67
Blaine McConnell, a performance coach renowned for speed development and his Unit Combine program, shares insights into athletic training. He discusses his revolutionary training methods that led him to a jaw-dropping 4.2 40-yard dash. The conversation includes fun ideas for a Gymtathlon competition and myths about sprint times. Blaine humorously recounts impressive feats like dunking a medicine ball while tackling various training topics, from Olympic lifts to adapting workouts in hot conditions. Expect plenty of laughs and real-world advice for athletes!

Jun 3, 2025 • 1h 4min
CRU MAHONEY talks Taking Control of Your Life + REAL Hybrid Athletes | Ep. 66
Check out Cru! @crumahoney Code "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comIn this episode of Coach 'Em Up, Tim Riley sits down with life coach Cru Mahoney to discuss consistency, mental fortitude, and showing up as the person you want to be. Cru shares his 2,500+ day running streak and unconventional approach to dealing with physical pain - simply caring less about it. They explore the transformative power of showing up daily regardless of how you feel, building genuine communities, and developing emotional endurance.Cru provides insights on the true meaning of being a hybrid athlete, criticizing how some fitness trends prioritize work capacity over skill development. The conversation also tackles the challenges of having an online platform, the importance of human connection in an increasingly digital world, and practical advice for building confidence through consistent action and effective communication.Did you enjoy this episode? Leave and like and subscribe so you won't miss part 2 with Cru!

May 27, 2025 • 1h 16min
KELLY MATTHEWS Q&A on Content Creation, Athleticism, AND Aesthetics | Ep. 65
Connect with Kelly on Youtube and Instagram! @kellylmatthews Code "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comKelly Matthews returns to the Coach 'Em Up Podcast for a deep dive into her fitness journey, content creation strategies, and industry insights with hosts Tim Riley and Zack Zillner. Kelly shares her transition from in-person training to full-time content creation, including her exciting capsule collection with Honoractive. The conversation explores the balance between athletic and aesthetic training approaches, building authentic connections with audiences, and navigating the pressures of the fitness content industry. Highlights include discussions on programming philosophy, the "Pilates Princess" trend, cycle syncing misconceptions, and practical advice for growing a coaching brand. Kelly also shares her unique perspective on nutrition habits and the importance of building a community rather than just a following.Don't forget to like and subscribe! Kelly said if this video gets 500 likes she'll give Tim an extra compliment this month, so please consider! It takes no time at all and it's free!

May 20, 2025 • 1h 27min
Strength Coach Q&A | Growing Clientele, In-season Programming, and more | Ep. 64
Check us out on instagram! @timrileytraining @zack_zillner The Coach Em Up Conference is sold out! Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket, and for those who missed out on a spot, we'll have more stuff in the near future! Stay tuned...Code "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comDon't worry everyone, Zack's stickin around!Tim Riley and Zack Zillner are back with a loaded Q&A episode of the Coach 'Em Up Podcast! Get the scoop on Zack's exciting move to the University of Miami as Director of Sports Performance for men's basketball, plus updates on the sold-out Coaching Up Conference 2025.They dive deep into training methodology, answering your questions about plyometric volume, adjusting training for starters vs bench players, and whether Olympic lifts are essential for athletes. They also share candid thoughts on movement systems like GOATA, key qualities that make great strength coaches, how to create genuine athlete buy-in versus compliance, and what a "Steroid Olympics" might look like.Remember to like and subscribe! We caught Zack crying in his car after the episode, and when we asked, he said the only thing that would make him feel better was if they channel had more subscribers, so please do us a favor. He's a very loud crier, and we'd prefer if he stopped.

May 13, 2025 • 1h 31min
REBECCA ROUSE on Sleep Optimization, Tactical Training, & Weightlifting | Ep. 63
Check out Rebecca on socials! @rebecca.rouse @mchnstrengthGet a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.comThe Coach Em Up Conference is sold out! Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket, and for those who missed out on a spot, we'll have more stuff in the near future! Stay tuned... In this episode of the Coach 'Em Up Podcast, host Tim Riley sits down with fitness expert Rebecca Rouse. They dive into Rebecca's journey from gymnastics to weightlifting, her coaching philosophy, and the founding of MCHN Strength. Rebecca shares valuable insights on recovery, sleep optimization, and building a successful fitness business aligned with personal values.Rebecca discusses her unique approach to training tactical populations, her participation in the United Grid League, and how she overcame chronic health challenges. She offers practical advice for aspiring coaches and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of identifying your clients and taking action.Don't forget to like and subscribe! It helps us out a ton, and it's totally free! Plus, Tim said he would send his bathwater to one lucky subscriber, so don't miss out!

May 6, 2025 • 1h 30min
BEN SIMONS talks Max Velocity Mechanics, Training Elasticity, Bobsled, and More! | Ep. 62
Connect with Ben! @benthebounceThe Coach Em Up Conference is sold out! Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket, and for those who missed out on a spot, we'll have more stuff in the near future! Stay tuned...Get a free trial with TrainHeroic ➡️ https://bit.ly/coachemuppodcastCode "coachemup10" for 10% off EVERYTHING at Eleiko.com/coachemupCode “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.com In this episode of Coach 'Em Up, Tim Riley interviews Ben "The Bounce" Simons, former Olympic bobsledder and elite performance coach. Ben shares his journey from track athlete to achieving 97mph in a bobsled, the intense Olympic training, and his coaching philosophy.Ben discusses athletic development, balancing evidence-based practices with experience, and individualized training. The conversation covers sprinting mechanics, stiffness vs. elasticity in athletes, and programming for both elite athletes and weekend warriors.Don't forget to like and subscribe! It helps us out a ton, and it's completely free!