The MTI Podcast

The statistics are grim: young men are falling behind their female peers in graduation rates, employment, and relationships—and leading in depression, suicide, and social isolation. In this episode, we share these numbers with four men in their 20s—MTI Coach Emmett Shaul (29) and three current MTI interns—and ask for their honest reactions. What do these stats reflect about their generation? Are they experiencing this decline firsthand? And what do they think the future holds? This is a candid, unscripted conversation about masculinity, struggle, resilience, and the state of young men in America today.

Solo episode today. Founder Rob Shaul answers emailed Questions from athletes concerning preparing for SWAT selection, overcoming plateaus in strength training, and scheduling programming for a multi-sport, often traveling mountain athlete. 

Discover the powerful concept of mental fitness and its core attributes, emphasizing the need for self-awareness. The discussion delves into a unique self-diagnostic tool for high-pressure situations, highlighting key traits like resilience and perseverance. Emotional management takes center stage, with strategies for recognizing and coping with negative feelings. Listeners will learn how mental fitness parallels physical fitness, enhancing resilience across life challenges. A must-listen for anyone interested in mastering their mind!

The hosts redefine mental toughness as a trainable attribute called mental fitness. They discuss key traits like resilience and emotional control, highlighting the difference between perseverance and discipline. Through personal stories of challenges, including triathlons and mountain adventures, they emphasize self-awareness and vulnerability in building mental strength. They explore whether mental fitness can be systematically trained and the role of environment in emotional responses. The idea of a 'mental gym' for daily practice sparks intriguing questions about personal growth.

Charlie, Seung, Jackson, and Sam discuss July's mini-study designs, focusing on velocity-based training, rucking strategies, and climbing training. The participants discuss the purpose and protocols of their studies, comparing traditional strength programming with velocity-based approaches, and examining the effectiveness of different rucking strategies. They also delve into climbing training, emphasizing the importance of finger strength and endurance. The discussion highlights the challenges of balancing multiple training protocols and the expected outcomes of their upcoming training cycles. ----more---- Mountain Tactical Institute Home MTI's Daily Programming Streams

In this episode, MTI's interns conducted a Q&A Rob Shaul covering key principles in strength and conditioning. Rob discusses his most unique coaching experience—whitewater kayakers—highlighting the upper-body-focused training and sport-specific programming he developed to meet their needs. He explains the rationale behind his TLU (Total Lower and Upper) complex training method, which pairs heavy lifts with low-rep explosive bodyweight exercises to enhance strength and power. The conversation emphasizes Rob’s belief in simplifying training programs over time, with a focus on real-world performance rather than gym-based metrics. He critiques conventional approaches like plyometrics, mobility work, and elaborate warm-ups, arguing they offer little return compared to straightforward, mission-specific training. Rob stresses the value of developing athlete assessments to guide programming, citing MTI’s extensive history of creating job- and sport-specific tests. He shares how many of MTI’s effective exercises evolved through testing and athlete feedback, and describes current experiments on strength maintenance with minimal training volume, power-based work capacity, and sled push applications. The discussion reflects MTI’s core philosophy: simplify where possible, test relentlessly, and always train for performance outside the gym. ----more---- Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams

A fascinating dive into the essence of fatherhood unfolds, emphasizing emotional connections over mere provision. Personal anecdotes reveal the delicate balance of nurturing and discipline, while the impact of trust and disappointment in father-child relationships is explored. The discussion delves into the unique challenges of parenting boys versus girls and the importance of mentorship amidst modern challenges like technology. Ultimately, it highlights how the measure of a good father is shaped by children's perceptions and the lasting influence of their presence.

In this conversation, Rob and Charlie dive into the Marine Corps' strategic shifts towards small craft and rapid deployment, the importance of junior officers in military discourse, and the challenges of aerobic training for mountain athletes. Additionally, they share personal experiences in bear hunting and explore the integration of AI in athletic programming. The discussion concludes with insights into research innovations in strength training and the concept of minimum effective dose training. ----more---- Interested in training with us at our facility in Ogden, UT? Email emmett@mtntactical.com Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams

Catherine, a tactical strength coach with a diverse military background, shares her journey through various branches of the military, highlighting the differences in training approaches and the challenges of implementing effective strength conditioning programs. She discusses the importance of understanding the unique needs of each branch, the role of data in shaping training, and the impact of wearable technology on fitness assessments. Catherine emphasizes the need for a strong training culture within the Space Force and the importance of individual accountability in achieving fitness goals. She reflects on her coaching philosophy, the significance of personal connections, and the future of tactical strength conditioning in the military. ----more---- Interested in training with us at our facility in Ogden, UT? Email emmett@mtntactical.com   Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams

Rob and Charlie discuss various topics, including MTI's new gym in Ogden, to his experiences with the carnivore diet and insights on supplements. They also delve into a study on shooting performance in law enforcement, with insights surrounding law enforcement shooting proficiency, the application of stress in shooting training, and the difficulties faced by part-time SWAT teams. Rob and Charlie also discuss topics covered in the MTI Brief, including the housing crisis in affluent ski towns and measures taken locally to solve for it. Interested in training with us at our facility in Ogden, UT? Email emmett@mtntactical.com 'Mindful Hunter' Notes on Supplements Mountain Tactical Institute Home Check out the MTI Athlete Team Apply to be a Paid MTI Athlete MTI's Daily Programming Streams