The Judd Lienhard Podcast

In this Q&A episode, Judd answers listener questions covering recovery, athletic performance, injury prevention, progression, and the practical side of building strength for life.
Judd explains why scheduled deload weeks aren't necessary for everyone, how to recognize the signs of overtraining, and why understanding basic training principles helps you make better decisions than blindly following internet advice. He also shares simple ways to improve athleticism without overhauling your current workout routine and discusses how older lifters or those dealing with knee pain can continue building strength safely.
The conversation also covers Judd's biggest lessons from years of training, including the warning signs that often appear before injuries happen, why patience leads to better long-term progress, and how small adjustments to your training can help you stay healthy for decades.
Finally, Judd shares his thoughts on today's fitness industry: why the shift toward performance, longevity, and healthspan is a positive trend, and why many optimization hacks and influencer routines simply aren't realistic for people balancing careers, families, and everyday life.

This episode is brought to you by David Protein
David Protein has the highest protein-to-calorie ratio of any leading bar in the market. David Protein Gold label has: 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar. And equally as important, this bar tastes delicious. Each bar features an indulgent, doughy texture, studded with satisfying chunks and airy crisps. Other bars are hard to choke down, but I often eat 2 David Protein bars in a sitting, they are that good. Try them for yourself.
Order here for free shipping on your first order: davidprotein.com/judd
This episode is brought to you by LMNT
Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd
Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Want in-person coaching with Judd? Apply now for an invite to one of his 3-Day Training Immersions held at his private gym in Austin, Texas: 
https://us21.list-manage.com/survey?u=83e092c07ea55de8a86df56ea&id=e5872f62d4&e=*%7CUNIQID%7C*
Judd Lienhard sits down with Bert Sorin, CEO of Sorinex, to discuss what actually makes athletes better, why most coaches misunderstand strength training, and how elite performers think differently about training, recovery, and life.
Bert Sorin has spent decades working alongside the world's best strength coaches, collegiate athletic programs, professional sports organizations, military units, and Olympic athletes. Together, Judd and Bert explore everything from Olympic lifting and power development to coaching philosophy, parenting, leadership, and why chasing "optimal" isn't always the answer.
Judd and Bert explain why athletes often spend too much time trying to mimic sport inside the weight room instead of improving the physical qualities that actually transfer to competition. They discuss why chasing bigger numbers doesn't always make someone a better athlete and why coaching requires understanding when less is actually more.
Follow Bert:
https://www.instagram.com/bertsorin/
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:45 Why Bert Sorin Became One of Strength Training's Biggest Influencers
00:03:27 Visiting Olympic Champion Valarie Allman
00:05:47 What Olympic Lifting Actually Measures
00:07:03 Summer Strong & Learning From Elite Performers
00:09:32 In-Season Strength Training for Olympic Athletes
00:11:02 Correlation vs. Causation in Sports Performance
00:13:20 Why Olympic Lifts Don't Build Athleticism
00:15:54 The Smarter Way to Program Power Cleans
00:17:23 The Biggest Olympic Lifting Technique Mistake
00:19:54 Why Rhythm Creates Better Athletes
00:22:23 Coaching Athletic Movement Through Rhythm
00:25:52 Touring Ways2Well & Recovery Technology
00:27:47 Military Intelligence, Hunting & Elite Performance
00:33:18 Learning From World-Class Specialists
00:36:44 The History of the Olympic Barbell
00:39:23 Why the Bench Press Became Popular
00:43:05 Why the Barbell Is Still King
00:45:43 Strength Training vs. Sport-Specific Training
00:47:31 The Real Goal of High-Performance Training
00:49:32 The Problem With Optimization Culture
00:52:04 Social Media, Authenticity & Validation
00:55:09 Raising Genuine, Confident Kids
00:57:23 Parenting Lessons They Learned Too Late
01:00:56 Fatherhood, Pressure & Emotional Intelligence
01:06:06 Why Every Parent Should Learn to Underreact
01:09:23 Training Kids Without Ruining Sports
01:12:16 Building Strong Young Athletes
01:16:01 Why Starting Sports Late Isn't Always Bad
01:19:08 The Case for Teen-Onset Athletic Development
01:22:16 What's Next for Sorinex
01:24:43 The Future of Strength Training Technology
01:25:49 Why Velocity Based Training Is the Future
01:28:15 Final Thoughts
This episode is brought to you by David Protein
David Protein has the highest protein-to-calorie ratio of any leading bar in the market. David Protein Gold label has: 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar. And equally as important, this bar tastes delicious. Each bar features an indulgent, doughy texture, studded with satisfying chunks and airy crisps. Other bars are hard to choke down, but I often eat 2 David Protein bars in a sitting, they are that good. Try them for yourself.
Order here for free shipping on your first order: davidprotein.com/judd
This episode is brought to you by LMNT
Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd
Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Want in-person coaching with Judd? Apply now for an invite to one of his 3-Day Training Immersions held at his private gym in Austin, Texas: 
https://us21.list-manage.com/survey?u=83e092c07ea55de8a86df56ea&id=e5872f62d4&e=*%7CUNIQID%7C*
In this week's Q&A episode, Judd answers some of the most common questions from listeners about fitness, athleticism, strength training, longevity, and how training should evolve after 40.
What separates someone who's simply "fit" from someone who's truly athletic? Are there really bad exercises? How much training volume do you actually need? And what changes should you make as you get older?
Judd explains why athleticism isn't reserved for elite athletes, it's something every person needs to navigate everyday life with confidence, resilience, and strength. He also shares the three principles that should guide every training program: safety, consistency, and progression.
In this episode:
 Why training is different from simply working out 
 The biggest mistake people over 40 make 
 Why there are no universally "bad" exercises 
 The difference between fitness and athleticism 
 How to train for longevity and resilience 
 The three principles every training plan should follow 
 Managing recovery, inflammation, and life stress 
 Judd's philosophy behind the MASS Method
This episode is brought to you by David Protein
David Protein has the highest protein-to-calorie ratio of any leading bar in the market. David Protein Gold label has: 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar. And equally as important, this bar tastes delicious. Each bar features an indulgent, doughy texture, studded with satisfying chunks and airy crisps. Other bars are hard to choke down, but I often eat 2 David Protein bars in a sitting, they are that good. Try them for yourself.
Order here for free shipping on your first order: davidprotein.com/judd
This episode is brought to you by LMNT
Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd
Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

This episode is sponsored by David Protein. David protein bars have the best protein/calorie ratio on the market and they taste delicious. Get free shipping on your first order at: www.davidprotein.com/judd

Does training need to look exactly like your sport? In this episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down one of the most misunderstood concepts in fitness, athletic performance, and strength training: specificity. Learn why copying sport movements in the gym is often the wrong approach, how elite strength coaches actually think about performance development, and why improving physical capabilities matters more than making exercises look athletic.

Want to work directly with Judd? Apply for coaching, training immersions, and other premium coaching opportunities with Judd.

Apply here: https://us21.list-manage.com/survey?u=83e092c07ea55de8a86df56ea&id=418c4f27ca&e=*|UNIQID|*

For years, athletes, coaches, and fitness enthusiasts have been told that the more an exercise resembles a sport skill, the more effective it is. Judd challenges that belief and explains why the purpose of training is not to imitate competition, but to improve the physical qualities that drive performance.

Try Judd’s training program, MASS METHOD, free for a week. Build strength and move better. Start Now: https://my.playbookapp.io/judd-lienhard/programs/your-first-week/43816?utm_campaign=50k_challenge&utm_content=all_challenges&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=playbook&sessionId=_fbp%3Dfb.1.1776551516651.783174122931141347%3B+createdAt%3D2026-04-30T20%3A57%3A02.131Z%3B+utmSource%3Dplaybook&creatorId=11715&productId=subscription 

Whether you're a competitive athlete, former athlete, weekend warrior, tactical athlete, or simply someone who wants to move better, stay stronger, and age with confidence, this episode provides practical insights that can immediately improve the way you approach training.
This episode is brought to you by David Protein
David Protein has the highest protein-to-calorie ratio of any leading bar in the market. David Protein Gold label has: 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar. And equally as important, this bar tastes delicious. Each bar features an indulgent, doughy texture, studded with satisfying chunks and airy crisps. Other bars are hard to choke down, but I often eat 2 David Protein bars in a sitting, they are that good. Try them for yourself.
Order here for free shipping on your first order: davidprotein.com/judd
This episode is brought to you by LMNT
Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd
Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Want to work directly with Judd? Apply for coaching, training immersions, and other premium coaching opportunities with Judd.

Apply here: https://us21.list-manage.com/survey?u=83e092c07ea55de8a86df56ea&id=418c4f27ca&e=*|UNIQID|*
In this week's Q&A episode of The Judd Lienhard Podcast, Judd answers listener questions covering everything from sprinting versus jogging and injury recovery to creatine supplementation, shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, Jefferson curls, and why most people structure their training completely backwards.
Judd explains why exercises are simply tools—not goals—and why effective training starts with identifying the adaptation you're trying to create before selecting the exercises that support it. He also breaks down the difference between hard training and intense training, why many fitness programs fail to develop athletic qualities effectively, and how elite athletes organize their training to maximize strength, speed, power, and conditioning.
Try Judd’s training program, MASS METHOD, free for a week. Build strength and move better. Start Now: https://my.playbookapp.io/judd-lienhard/programs/your-first-week/43816?utm_campaign=50k_challenge&utm_content=all_challenges&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=playbook&sessionId=_fbp%3Dfb.1.1776551516651.783174122931141347%3B+createdAt%3D2026-04-30T20%3A57%3A02.131Z%3B+utmSource%3Dplaybook&creatorId=11715&productId=subscription
Topics discussed include:
• The real difference between sprinting and jogging
• Why most adults stop training power and speed
• Hard vs. intense training explained
• How elite athletes structure training differently
• Creatine and cognitive performance
• The first steps after a muscle strain
• Why rest and ice may not be the best recovery strategy
• Managing shoulder pain during pressing movements
• Variable resistance and accommodating resistance
• Jefferson curls and spinal flexion training
• Fitness equipment Judd wishes existed
• Flywheel training and eccentric overload
• Plantar fasciitis rehabilitation
• How to return to running, sprinting, and jumping after injury
• Judd's in-person coaching immersion experience
• The Mass Method approach to training
Whether your goal is to build muscle, improve conditioning, become more athletic, recover from injuries, or simply understand how effective training should be organized, this episode offers practical principles that can immediately improve the way you approach fitness.
This episode is brought to you by David Protein
David Protein has the highest protein-to-calorie ratio of any leading bar in the market. David Protein Gold label has: 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar. And equally as important, this bar tastes delicious. Each bar features an indulgent, doughy texture, studded with satisfying chunks and airy crisps. Other bars are hard to choke down, but I often eat 2 David Protein bars in a sitting, they are that good. Try them for yourself.
Order here for free shipping on your first order: davidprotein.com/judd
This episode is brought to you by LMNT
Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right electrolyte balance. Make your purchase through my link to receive a free LMNT Sample Pack featuring the most popular flavors: drinklmnt.com/judd
Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥