The Coaches Corner University Podcast

Today, I sat down with Joey Szatmary, who is the Owner of the business/brand "Szatstrength" and Lions Den Strength and Performance.  Joey is a father and husband first, a Strength sport athlete, and most notably, a strongman. Joey’s accomplishments include: Pro Strongman, 2019 USS Overall National Champion for the 242 & 275 class. 2018 Team USA for 105kg class, taking third, PA Strongest man 2x, gym owner of 8 years, high school strength and performance coach, and lacrosse coach, and he has a YouTube channel with 137k subscribers.We discussed00:37 - Post-Surgery Pain and Recovery from Quad Tear09:59 - Identity Crisis After Winning Nationals13:41 - Ego Check and Self-Worth Beyond Competition17:17 - Self-Reflection: Doing vs. Being19:43 - How YouTube Started as a Training Log23:53 - Reaching Out and Collaborating with Brian Alsruhe26:44 - The Power of Asking and Saying Yes to Opportunities28:53 - Season of Yes vs. Season of No in Career31:42 - Abundance Mindset and Eliminating Competition34:06 - Gym Business Journey and Transitions40:00 - Following Your Passion and Leaning Into What Excites You46:14 - Recognizing Capacity Limits and Burnout Signals49:34 - Periodizing Your Life Like Training55:02 - The Critical Role of Spousal Support in Business58:06 - Defining Success Beyond External MetricsFind JoeyWebsite - szatstrength.netInstagram - @szatstrengthYouTube - @SzatStrengthPodcast - Becoming The Lion__________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

In this episode, I welcome back Dr. Lisa Lewis to the podcast to discuss the link between motivation, discipline and identity. Dr. Lisa Lewis is a licensed psychologist and certified addictions counsellor with a passion for fitness and wellness. She holds a master’s degree in clinical counselling psychology and a doctorate in counselling and sport psychology. She owns and operates Dr. Lewis Consulting & Psychotherapy, LLC, in Brookline, Massachusetts and online. Dr. Lewis is also the co-owner of Core Collective Brookline, a holistic gym and wellness center. As an educator, Lisa provides consultation and continuing education for nutrition, fitness, and wellness companies. She works individually with athletes, high-achieving executives, and fitness enthusiasts, providing both traditional psychotherapy and performance consultation. She also offers professional development and continuing education for coaches and fitness professionals, and regularly presents on topics such as motivation, mental health, exercise, and behaviour change.We discuss:00:01:44 - Discipline vs Identity00:03:12 - Self-Determination Theory & Types of Motivation00:04:50 - Integrated Regulation & Ingrained Habits00:12:39 - Habit Formation Timeline & Repetitions00:14:27 - Self-Efficacy & Building Competence00:17:03 - Competing Priorities & Life Barriers00:18:01 - Values, Priorities & Agency00:28:38 - Setting Expectations in Coach-Client Relationships00:32:34 - Motivational Interviewing for CoachesFind Dr. Lisa:Website: www.drlewisconsulting.com Courses: www.psychskillsforfitpros.com IG: @drlewisconsulting __________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

In this episode, I sit down with the Strength Coach and Founder of Hoopie Hybrid, Cody Miller.  Cody and I met in 2010, when we were both working at Robert Morris University and have been friends ever since.  Cody spent over 10 years as a collegiate strength and conditioning coach and then transitioned into the tactical strength and conditioning world. He runs and lifts (the kids call this “hybrid”). He cofounded Hoopie Hybrid with his beautiful wife, Cayt. It launched in January of 2024 and consists of online hybrid training groups and programs. Cody and Cayt enjoy hanging out with their two pitbull mutts, Millie and Ollie, and enjoy going to the beach every spare moment they can.We discussedThe psychology of doing hard thingsProject HeraclesHybrid athlete fundamentalsRunning methodologyPractical training considerationsWhy Zone 2-only training fails Paul's transformation from elite powerlifter to hybrid athlete at 225+ lbsThe scalability of fitness challenges Find CodyWebsite - hoopiestrength.comInstagram - @cody_hoopiestrength__________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

Dr. Dominic Schultz, a chiropractor and strength coach, shares his journey from a walk-on football player at the University of Minnesota to empowering patients through his hybrid model at Charge Health and Chiropractic. He discusses mental fortitude gained from sports and the challenges of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of building trust with patients who have had negative experiences. Dominic also reveals innovative pain relief methods using isometrics, the significance of partnerships, and how to define what 'enough' really means in business.

Today, I sat down with Nick Haince, Founder and President of Capital Strength. He oversees all Sport Performance Programs at Capital Strength. He has been in the industry for 15 years and has worked with a wide range of ages, abilities, injuries and levels of sport. He has helped develop hundreds of local amateur, college and professional hockey athletes in his 12 years of Hockey performance development. He has guided athletes from AAA to Professional and continues to lead the CSTS Summer Hockey program alongside his Strength Staff. He is very proud of his team of Coaches and the community they get to work with every day. As a Kinesiologist, he has successfully worked with and rehabbed several post-surgery patients, including Knee Replacements (half and full), Hip Replacement, ACL reconstructions, and Shoulder and Hip Labrum surgeries.We discussed00:49 – Capital Strength (Ottawa) and what’s new01:12 – Community engine: run club, golf tournament, summer social02:01 – Recovery upgrades (sauna/cold plunge tweaks)02:37 – Movember charity Saturdays (donation workouts)05:39 – The “memberships/day” trap vs. making people feel part of something09:43 – Ads vs. brand: stop playing a game you can’t win15:32 – Landing page + welcome video + tightened SOP13:02 – Onboarding in the wild: free trial classes & first-timer protocol19:00 – Facility fit-out lessons (office/industrial → gym flow)20:53 – Being seen as “the gym + the clinic” (referrals both ways)22:04 – Grand opening: new clinic space25:06 – Hybrid offer: assessment + membership access to both sides44:08 – Leadership at scale: running a 16-person team44:42 – Staff buy-in: “hands-up” coaches & investing in engagement01:00:41 – Content moat: launching the Capital Strength PodcastFind NickWebsite - https://capitalstrengthts.com/Personal Instagram - @nhainceBusiness Instagram - @capital_strength_ts__________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

Today I sat down with Stuart Brauer, founder of WTF Gym Talk and The Gym Real Estate Company. Stuart has 18+ years of experience in the fitness industry, where he owned his own gyms for a decade in Charlotte, NC and started a media and business consulting handle, WTF GYM TALK. Stu used the cash flow from his gym to purchase commercial real estate, which allowed him to "retire" from gym ownership at age 35. In 2021, he founded The Gym Real Estate Company to assist gym owners in leasing and purchasing buildings across the US.We discussed:00:01 – Stu’s background: from CrossFit to gym ownership to consulting03:11 – Using gyms to bankroll commercial real estate04:29 – Launching WTF Gym Talk and scaling into consulting05:45 – Brick-and-mortar vs. online coaching during COVID06:22 – Solving the “time for money” problem as a consultant08:41 – Leveraging real estate to increase income without charging clients more10:20 – The value of mentorship and hiring smarter people11:35 – Understanding client psychology by being a customer yourself14:22 – Delivering “unreasonable hospitality” in fitness businesses18:33 – Random acts of kindness and client surprise strategies online21:18 – Creating shareable media that elevates clients’ status24:21 – Retention: separating relationships from transactions25:07 – Being emotional about the member, not the membership27:49 – Why no client is truly “for life” (and how to love canceled clients)33:02 – Frameworks for client experience: the bow tie effect & win-ask method37:45 – Biggest mistakes gym owners make: neglecting HR and undercapitalizingFind StuartWebsites - wtfgymtalk.com and gymrealestate.coInstagram - @wtfgymtalk and @gymrealestate __________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

Today, I sat down with Tommy Stiles, Owner of Stiles Strength & Performance Online Coaching. He is a national-level bodybuilder who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. In his pas,t he was a firefighter/paramedic in the metro Detroit area. He is fascinated and obsessed with self-mastery and extreme discipline. The pursuit of self improvement and achieving goals consumes him and fuels his passion to coach and help others to do the same.We discussed:00:01 – Tommy’s background: athletics, coaching, and business ventures02:44 – Identity after sport: rebuilding purpose and direction06:15 – Curiosity as the driver of growth and opportunity09:58 – Building resilience through discomfort and friction13:10 – The “Chasing Edges” philosophy explained15:49 – Leadership lessons: serving others vs. chasing ego18:24 – Balancing ambition with presence22:40 – Relationships as mirrors for self-awareness and growth28:02 – Entrepreneurship lessons: betting on yourself and taking risks31:16 – High-performance habits that transfer beyond athletics36:04 – The role of storytelling in coaching and business39:21 – Navigating failure and reframing setbacks as opportunities42:37 – Building self-trust by keeping promises to yourself46:55 – Creating alignment between values, business, and lifestyle51:12 – Living on the edge: chasing discomfort to find what’s nextFind TommyWebsite - stilesstrength.comInstagram - @tstiles2YouTube - Tommy Stiles__________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

Today, I sat down with Gabrielle Bryk, who is the Owner of GYM GAB LLC and the Co-Owner of Bryksquad Barbell.  Garbielle is a female-focused trainer who helps women regain their strength and confidence! In addition to being a trainer, she is a competitive Powerlifter and wellness bodybuilder.Timestamps:00:01 – Meeting at the Coach’s Room Mastermind & the Ascending Transaction Model02:41 – Free gifts, micro-commitments, and moving prospects to clients05:36 – Gab & Jeremy’s journey: 5 years coaching, 2 years running Brick Squad Barbell06:08 – Toxic gym environments and deciding to leave09:08 – The bad business deal that sparked their drive to open a gym12:19 – Finding their facility through Facebook Marketplace15:01 – Launching Brick Squad Barbell in a single day16:27 – Transitioning clients and building loyalty through service17:46 – Building community before equipment19:22 – Creating a unique “gritty 90s” gym vibe20:20 – Gab’s personal story: gymnastics, sports, and discovering training23:09 – Education in sports management and psychology24:25 – Starting Gym Gab during COVID26:18 – Outdoor and pop-up fitness classes that built community27:35 – Losing her class base when moving facilities and starting over28:48 – Growing group classes and the value of customer lifetime value29:52 – Why Gab still works a full-time job while running the gym33:14 – Stability, benefits, and supporting Jeremy’s online business36:34 – Long-term vision: family, gym ownership, and freedom39:05 – Business partnership dynamics with Jeremy (front-end vs back-end)43:04 – Professionalism and attention to detail (cleaning, culture, and standards)44:44 – Challenges of running a business with your partner46:00 – The biggest bottleneck: time, and how to invest it wisely49:33 – Gab’s superpower: serving women through fitness and empathy50:40 – Life challenges, resilience, and using psychology to help clients55:10 – Building confidence and community for women through lifting57:15 – Turning personal loss into deeper purpose and service58:39 – Why workouts aren’t the hardest thing your clients will ever doFind GabrielleIG - @gymgabproEmail - gymgabpro@gmail.com__________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

Today I sat down with Ryan Nosak, CEO and Head Coach for RyNo Strength. Ryan is the driving force behind RyNo Strength, a VIP personal training experience based in Chicago’s Lincoln Park that elevates both body and mind for busy professionals and ex-athletes. A defining moment in Ryan’s life came early: after losing his mother to cancer at age five, he turned to food for comfort, a path that led to serious health issues by junior high. Doctors pressured for immediate change. His discovery of strength training didn’t just reverse his health; it sparked a life‑changing transformation, fueling confidence, discipline, and self‑belief. Ryan then spent nearly a decade as a Division 1 strength and conditioning coach—then, in the tumultuous spring of 2020, he launched RyNo Strength on his own terms. Since then, he’s helped over 200 individuals reclaim their fitness, energy, and self‑worth through sustainable, science‑backed coaching and personalized strategy .Time Stamps:00:01 – Ryan’s coaching background and transition out of college athletics02:00 – Leaving DePaul during COVID to launch Rhino Strength04:21 – Mentality shift: high-performance athletes vs. general population05:18 – Bringing D1-level periodization and systems to everyday clients06:43 – “Every client is a professional athlete in their own life”07:23 – Impact: million-dollar 40-yard dash vs. teaching a mom to meal prep09:13 – Financial reality of college athletics vs. personal training freedom10:13 – Identity struggle: leaving behind the “college strength coach” title12:26 – Building freedom and presence as a husband and father17:22 – Early mistakes: “Swiss cheese schedule” and taking every client18:44 – Learning to set boundaries, block time, and respect family balance21:32 – Systems vs. personality: Starbucks consistency + mom & pop warmth25:05 – Coaching clients for long-term independence (“learn to train”)33:00 – Authenticity, vulnerability, and connecting through personal story41:02 – Social media as a business card, not the business itself48:31 – Friction in business: selling, content creation, and perfectionismFind RyanWebsite - https://rynostrength.com/Instagram - @ryan.nosak Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.nosak TikTok: @ryan.nosak Threads: ryan.nosak LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-nosak-a39b0392 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryno_strength__________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!

In this episode, I sit down with Performance Coach and Owner of THIRST (Terre Haute Intensity Resistance and Sports Training), Brandon Smitley.Brandon is a world-renowned strength coach and athlete with over a decade of experience. He has worked with athletes of all ages and levels in various facilities and weight rooms nationwide.Brandon earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health and Fitness from Purdue University and his Master’s in Physical Education and Coaching from Indiana State University. He has been honoured with Personal Trainer of the Year Awards from Purdue University and Indiana State University. Additionally, Brandon is a sponsored athlete with Elitefts and NutraBio.As a competitive powerlifter, Brandon holds the all-time world record squat in the 132-pound weight class with an incredible 567-pound squat. He also boasts a 330-pound bench press and a 510-pound deadlift in the same weight class, achieving a total of 1377 pounds, which ranks him 4th all-time.Brandon provides online coaching and programming to athletes worldwide. He has personally worked with over 200 athletes across the US, UK, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and other countries. We discuss:Brandon's background in bodybuilding and powerlifting. Became one of the strongest people on the planet. The path of education and internship Creating THIRST Gym and the semi-private modelBalancing being a lifter at heart while owning a business. Combining in-person training with online coachingHe found fulfillment within the coaching relationship with all different types of clients. The drive behind supporting youth athlete development changed in the young athlete population and addressing those needs. How do you make sure you can fill it in with people? What are the next steps for growth? Using YouTube to build a personal brandLeveraging social mediaContinually seeking mentorshipBeing a father The bill always comes dueFind Brandon:Website: THIRSTgym.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bsmitley/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bsmitley__________Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry. If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com. If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance__________-🌟 Make More Money and Improve your Services as an Online Fitness Coach:www.coachescorneru.com💪 Use Training and Nutrition for Peak Performance:www. masterathletic.comWho am I and why should you listen to me?Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!