The Vaughn Weightlifting Podcast

Welcome to 2018! Now that 2017 is behind us, like many for many reasons, we are going to take this opportunity to start fresh and aim toward taking this to another level with more frequent shows and new topics! Don't worry, we still plan a little more of the same giving you your(and our) fix of fitness professionals, experts, specialists with great tips and knowledge shared to help you on your journey. In addition, be ready for weightlifting competition(mostly national level) previews and/or reviews with special guest to help us chat it up about the category in question(ie, for Youth Nationals we'll talk about training youth athletes...) Laslty, we'll be introducing another NEW segment where we plan to hear from certain individuals who inspire us with their stories and their lives!

Welcome to 2018! Now that 2017 is behind us, like many for many reasons, we are going to take this opportunity to start fresh and aim toward taking this to another level with more frequent shows and new topics! Don't worry, we still plan a little more of the same giving you your(and our) fix of fitness professionals, experts, specialists with great tips and knowledge shared to help you on your journey. In addition, be ready for weightlifting competition(mostly national level) previews and/or reviews with special guest to help us chat it up about the category in question(ie, for Youth Nationals we'll talk about training youth athletes...) Laslty, we'll be introducing another NEW segment where we plan to hear from certain individuals who inspire us with their stories and their lives!

We could say that a barbell has the power to heal in many different ways. It is a tool that can change us physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, etc. In this episode we talk to the founder and CEO of Barbells For Boobs, Zionna Hanson, about how she has used a barbell to help heal many, many people in more ways than one, and how YOU can use your barbell for a higher purpose! Zionna also touches on why she believes so strongly that "giving is healing," and talks at length on how she juggles being a CEO and Mother with training and competing.

We could say that a barbell has the power to heal in many different ways. It is a tool that can change us physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, etc. In this episode we talk to the founder and CEO of Barbells For Boobs, Zionna Hanson, about how she has used a barbell to help heal many, many people in more ways than one, and how YOU can use your barbell for a higher purpose! Zionna also touches on why she believes so strongly that "giving is healing," and talks at length on how she juggles being a CEO and Mother with training and competing.

DPT and former gymnast, Dave Tilley joins us again, as well as DPT and former Strongman competitor, Dan Pope, to continue the conversation of gymnastics for weightlifting and vice versa. Specific topics include:1. The importance of being a well rounded athlete to the specialist(i.e. sport specific weightlifter) vs excess specialization2. Using gymnastics in your warm ups/as auxiliary to assist in athletic completeness and more overall potential as a weightlifter, as well as potentially using CrossFit WODs(ideally without the barbell) for 1-2 weeks after each competition to allow for a mental/emotional break from the monotonous weightlifting program and to assist in physical recovery as well as against excess specialization3. Overlooked benefits of the "hollow" position for most weightlifters4. Could a lack of strength/imbalance in the upper body(whether that be shoulders, upper back, etc) be holding you back in the Olympic lifts(this can be typical to early, excess specialization)5. Of course, MORE on the squat

DPT and former gymnast, Dave Tilley joins us again, as well as DPT and former Strongman competitor, Dan Pope, to continue the conversation of gymnastics for weightlifting and vice versa. Specific topics include:1. The importance of being a well rounded athlete to the specialist(i.e. sport specific weightlifter) vs excess specialization2. Using gymnastics in your warm ups/as auxiliary to assist in athletic completeness and more overall potential as a weightlifter, as well as potentially using CrossFit WODs(ideally without the barbell) for 1-2 weeks after each competition to allow for a mental/emotional break from the monotonous weightlifting program and to assist in physical recovery as well as against excess specialization3. Overlooked benefits of the "hollow" position for most weightlifters4. Could a lack of strength/imbalance in the upper body(whether that be shoulders, upper back, etc) be holding you back in the Olympic lifts(this can be typical to early, excess specialization)5. Of course, MORE on the squat

DPT and former gymnast, Dave Tilley joins us to discuss the benefits of gymnastics for weightlifting and vice versa. Specific topics include:1. Using a barbell to implement the progressive overload principle for gymnasts2. Using the body awareness and stability developed through gymnastics to add insurance for the weightlifter3. Flat feet and the epidemic of kids not being able to touch their toes4. "Cue until the cows come home" and spinning wheels as coach or athlete vs proper assessment and development of individualized needs5. Using circuits or sequences(i.e., rounds of moving mobility, then squat variation, then mobility, then squat variation, etc.) to help improve mobility for specific movements vs just foam rolling, static stretching, etc.

DPT and former gymnast, Dave Tilley joins us to discuss the benefits of gymnastics for weightlifting and vice versa. Specific topics include:1. Using a barbell to implement the progressive overload principle for gymnasts2. Using the body awareness and stability developed through gymnastics to add insurance for the weightlifter3. Flat feet and the epidemic of kids not being able to touch their toes4. "Cue until the cows come home" and spinning wheels as coach or athlete vs proper assessment and development of individualized needs5. Using circuits or sequences(i.e., rounds of moving mobility, then squat variation, then mobility, then squat variation, etc.) to help improve mobility for specific movements vs just foam rolling, static stretching, etc.

This Episode starts off with Chad and Adam discussing and reconfirming the importance of sufficient/good mobility and movement as it relates to the amount of work you are doing, in hopes of leaving the listeners with some thoughts that might help point them in the right direction in this regard. Ultimately, better movement and mobility typically means quicker recovery, and greater potential for higher volume. Chad continues on with giving an overview of his training throughout the entirety of his career, including the cycles for Olympic qualification and into the actual Olympic competitions; mistakes he believes he made with a few examples of how he overcame some stalled progress.

This Episode starts off with Chad and Adam discussing and reconfirming the importance of sufficient/good mobility and movement as it relates to the amount of work you are doing, in hopes of leaving the listeners with some thoughts that might help point them in the right direction in this regard. Ultimately, better movement and mobility typically means quicker recovery, and greater potential for higher volume. Chad continues on with giving an overview of his training throughout the entirety of his career, including the cycles for Olympic qualification and into the actual Olympic competitions; mistakes he believes he made with a few examples of how he overcame some stalled progress.

In our opinion, doing TOO much is currently the biggest contributor to lack of progress with the athletes that are drawn to the weightlifting and CrossFit communities. There is certainly NO lack of work ethic here, but we would say that this kind of dedication is no longer good enough when it comes to optimum performance. I, myself, spent 7 years at right around the same weights; very little to no progress during a time and age(24-31) that I should've had more in me. Looking back it's easy to see I was simply doing too much! My attitude was that if I fail, it won't be for lack of effort, or because I didn't do ENOUGH...I believe that far too many athletes fall victim to this mind set. This, especially combined with lack of mobility and/or quality technique, is usually detrimental combination and will likely knock you out of the game over and over again. Remember that hard work for most of us is the easy part, more automatic and this will not go away. SO, work on developing the quality of patience, and dedicate yourself to necessary changes, recovery, and finding your current, optimal workload and slowly progress up from there over time and as able.

In our opinion, doing TOO much is currently the biggest contributor to lack of progress with the athletes that are drawn to the weightlifting and CrossFit communities. There is certainly NO lack of work ethic here, but we would say that this kind of dedication is no longer good enough when it comes to optimum performance. I, myself, spent 7 years at right around the same weights; very little to no progress during a time and age(24-31) that I should've had more in me. Looking back it's easy to see I was simply doing too much! My attitude was that if I fail, it won't be for lack of effort, or because I didn't do ENOUGH...I believe that far too many athletes fall victim to this mind set. This, especially combined with lack of mobility and/or quality technique, is usually detrimental combination and will likely knock you out of the game over and over again. Remember that hard work for most of us is the easy part, more automatic and this will not go away. SO, work on developing the quality of patience, and dedicate yourself to necessary changes, recovery, and finding your current, optimal workload and slowly progress up from there over time and as able.

In this episode we get to know Dr. Aaron Horschig, the founder of the VERY popular and rapidly growing weightlifting/mobility information source, Squat University! After answering one of our initial questions of why he loves the squat so much, he follows up by explaining how he believes whole heartedly that improving your squat movement/positions alone can significantly widen the base of your athletic pyramid(a pyramid has 3 equal sides so can only grow taller with a bigger base), and how he is driven to empower with simplicity with his new book coming out in March of 2017! We wrap up this powerful hour with what to look out for when using the concept of "knees out" as a cue, and whether or not to turn out the toes in the squat.

In this episode we get to know Dr. Aaron Horschig, the founder of the VERY popular and rapidly growing weightlifting/mobility information source, Squat University! After answering one of our initial questions of why he loves the squat so much, he follows up by explaining how he believes whole heartedly that improving your squat movement/positions alone can significantly widen the base of your athletic pyramid(a pyramid has 3 equal sides so can only grow taller with a bigger base), and how he is driven to empower with simplicity with his new book coming out in March of 2017! We wrap up this powerful hour with what to look out for when using the concept of "knees out" as a cue, and whether or not to turn out the toes in the squat.

In this episode we start off talking about the world famous, "Van Alstyne Fine Arts and Convention Center"(literally a barn in very small town Texas) where 2 very large local weightlifting competitions are now held each year. From it's humble beginnings of 5-10 lifters/competition in the late 90's to the very quick sell out of 150 participants for each event over the last few years, it's a great example of the strong rise in the desire to compete in weightlifting! SO, when is one ready to compete? Are you interested, but never feel like you're ready..."I don't think my numbers are where they need to be just yet?" Tune in for some recommendations on where to start, and what to look out for in a well ran competition, and how to keep yourself motivated and occupied in the meantime!