Program design is the easy part of coaching. The real challenge (and the fun!) is in nurturing relationships and using the principles of human behavior to help your clients make sustainable changes. In this episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith chat about the human behavior basics every coach should know and why relations…

We’ve changed our thinking on what it means to be an efficient coach over the last few years, and so we want to clear a few things up in this week’s episode of Back Room Talk! 00.00 - 00.45 Opening titles 00:45 - 1:43 Intro to today’s topic -Does Efficiency Actually Matter? 1:43 - 5:50 Where the idea came from 5:50 - 8:55 Are fitness coaches creati…

Join CCP and mention Back Room Talk for $500 off your enrollment! Offer ends June 30. Apply here: https://www.opexfit.com/ccp-level-1 What’s the best fitness advice you’ve ever received? In this week's episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith reflect on the answers you guys gave when we asked this question on Instagram a few…

Sign up for LearnRx and access our exclusive subscriber-only content, including this week's Half Marathon Program Breakdown and our huge library of fitness education classes: https://learnrx.app/ https://learnrx.app/classes/back-room-talk In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith break down and review 4 common …

Sign up for LearnRx and access our exclusive subscriber-only content, including this week's Half Marathon Program Breakdown and our huge library of fitness education classes: https://learnrx.app/ https://learnrx.app/classes/back-room-talk In this week's episode of Back Room Talk, Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith roll through real answers to common q…

Should fitness coaches do blood testing? While knowing what’s going under the hood is undeniably important for health, this is an area that has long been untouched by coaches, both due to a lack of knowledge and scope of practice concerns. In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith share their thoughts on whethe…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith are joined by repeat guest Michael Bann to discuss coaching adaptive athletes and defining quality movement. 00:00 - 00:45 Opening titles 00:45 - 02:15 Introductions 02:15 - 10:55 The pros and cons of remote coaching 10:55 - 16:50 Basic human guidelines for adaptive ath…

“What’s the best exercise for…?” is one of the most common questions we get from coaches. So we decided to answer it in this week’s episode of Back Room Talk! Hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith share 5 essential frameworks for exercise selection, to help you think critically about what exercises you’re prescribing. 00:00 - 00:45 Opening titles 0…

Passion isn’t enough if you can’t pay your bills… In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss the things coaches need to consider if they want to make more money doing what they love. 00:00 - 00:40 Opening titles 00:40 - 06:10 Intro to topic 06:10 - 24:10 Belief in yourself/purpose 24:10 - 39:20 Pricing 39…

The training split lays the foundation for everything you write in program design… but too many coaches either overcomplicate the split, or skip this crucial step altogether. In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith share how to create training splits that are both simpler and smarter. 00:00 - 2:00 Opening 2:00…

You can progress a client through cyclical, time-based MAP intervals forever and get them great results, and mastering the basics first is essential… but as coaches, we love to challenge ourselves to think outside the box with program design! In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss creative strategies …

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith share their top 3 pieces of nutrition advice… you’ll have to listen to find out what it is! 00:00 - 00:50 Opening titles 00:50 - 06:05 Introduction to the topic - the best nutrition advice ever received 06:05 - 15:10 Quantity more important than quality 15:10 - 28:50 Qua…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith share their list of the Basic Human Guidelines - movement requirements they believe every human should work towards being able to achieve. 00:00 - 00:45 Opening titles 00:45 - 03:25 Intro to today’s topic: basic human guidelines 03:25 - 11:35 Where idea for podcast came …

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss productivity and what it means for the fitness coach. FREE LEARNRX CLASS: Individual Design Efficiency - https://learnrx.app/classes/individual-design-efficiency-with-coachrx 00:00 - 00:50 Opening titles 00:50 - 04:50 Intro to topic: The Productive Coach 04:50 - …

What characteristics do the best fitness coaches possess? Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith chat about the traits and behaviors they believe every coach should work to develop. 00:00 - 00:45 Opening titles 00:45 - 09:30 Intro to topic + personal views on it 09:30 - 14:45 Perspective / Experience 14:45 - 21:30 Consistency 21:30 - …

Love coffee? This episode is for you! Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith chat about what happens when we consume caffeine and how it affects health and performance—the good and the bad. 00:00 - 00:50 Opening titles 00:50 - 06:05 Intro to topic and personal anecdotes about drinking coffee 06:05 - 15:20 Relationship to coffee 15:20 …

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss a new framework for mastering physical skills, with examples of application along the way. Watch the Skill Development and Progression webinar for FREE here: https://learnrx.app/classes/webinars/chapters/skill-development-progression-where-coaches-go-wrong 00:00 …

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith break down the intentions, daily plans, and progressions of two programs: 1. 6/12/25 Full Body Tri Sets 6-week program 2. Mixed MAP 9 8-week program Access the full programs in LearnRx: https://learnrx.app/ Assign the Program in CoachRx: https://coachrx.app/ 00:00 - 00:…

By cycling through phases of accumulation and intensification, you manage exposure to volume and intensity and keep your clients recovering and progressing towards their training goals. In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss the nuances of implementing periodization. 00:00 - 00:35 Opening titles 00:3…

Can alcohol fit inside of a healthy lifestyle? What about if I’m trying to gain lean mass, lose body fat, perform at a high level, or maximize vitality? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss physiological impacts of booze. 00:00 - 00:45 - Opening titles 00:45- 3:15 Introduction to alcohol 3:15 - 51:…

Are there differences in training men and women? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith tackle this topic, including: - Masculine/feminine personality traits & coaching - Physiological differences in fuel utilization - How physiology determines volume, intensity, frequency, recovery and limitations - Conside…

To count macros, or not to count macros? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss the pros and cons of a macronutrient prescription, including how they compare to a calorie-only plan or a specific meal plan. 00:00 - 00:50 Opening titles 00:50 - 03:35 Intro to topic - Macros and upcoming webinar - https…

How many calories can you rack up on the Assault Bike in 10 minutes? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith are talking all about the 10 minute Assault Bike for max cals—what the results mean, common limitations, and how to improve them with smart programming. 00:00 - 2:33 Opening 2:33 - 3:35 Intro to today’…

If fitness in 2021/22 could be summarized in a newspaper headline, what would it read? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith answer this question and share the things they want to see more of and less of in fitness this year. 00:00 - 00:40 Opening titles 00:40 - 13:40 Intro + if fitness in 2021 was a headli…

Let's talk about sets… Straight sets, supersets, tri sets, and giant sets, specifically. In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss these common strategies for structuring resistance programs, and share why you might choose one over the other. 00:00 - 00:40 Titles 00:40 - 6:40 Opening & highlights of 202…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith take you through a real time client avatar with the OPEX Method. Give it a listen and see how our team notices, explains, and prescribes exercise and lifestyle based on intake, consultation, and assessment. 00:00 - 00:40 Titles 00:40 - 02:22 Opening 02:22 - 04:00 Intro …

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss the pros and cons of efficiency and effectiveness, and how coaches can strike the perfect balance. 00:00 - 01:40 Opening 01:40 - 4:50 Definition of efficiency and effectiveness 4:50 - 20:38 Pros of Efficiency 20:38 - 33:10 Cons of Efficiency 33:10 - 39:26 …

Can CrossFit be individualized? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith kick it off by sharing their thoughts on this topic. PLUS, they discuss a framework for long-term aerobic development for the general population, non-performer client. 00:00 - 00:45 Titles 00:45 - 15:00 Can Crossfit be individualized? 15:…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss six common health mishaps that clients face during the holidays, and offer ways for coaches to support them through each. 00:00 - 3:36 Welcome and intro to topic - coaching through the holidays 3:36 - 8:53 Launch of new CoachRx dashboard, importance of communica…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith share their thoughts on the pros and cons of self-measurement with wearables and other fitness trackers. Let us know if you enjoyed the episode and we’ll do a part 2 on all the other areas in health and fitness that technology lets us track. 00:00 - 00:50 Titles 00:50 -…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith introduce the new LearnRx platform (watch out for our Black Friday offer!) and discuss some of the problems with traditional coaching education. Check out LearnRx: www.learnrx.app 00:00 - 1:14 Opening and intro to today’s topic: LearnRx + Education 1:14 - 5:09 What is L…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss some of the biggest mistakes coaches make when writing strength programs. Download the free Strength Coach's Manual here: https://www.opexfit.com/free-downloads/strength-coachs-manual 00:00 - 00:40 Opening 00:40- 03:28 Welcome and intro to topic: 4 reasons why p…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith shared their top takeaways from the recent OPEX Coaches Summit. 00:00 - 4:35 Intro and round up of news 04:35 - 16:34 Carl’s first takeaway from summit: Confidence is critical. How to get it. 16:34 - 27:58 Georgia’s first takeaway: Women’s health and the importance of B…

In this week's episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith sat down with three of the Big Dawgs coaches: Will Trujillo, Mizar Fuentes-Ortega, and Michael Bann. We took the opportunity to ask each coach one question: Will - What is one thing that fitness coaches can learn from the rehab and the performance worlds, and vice versa…

In this week's episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith sat down with three of the Big Dawgs coaches: Henry Toraño, Sam Smith, and Whitney Reese. We took the opportunity to ask each coach one question: Henry - What are 3 ways that a gym owner can shape the culture of their community? Sam - What are the top 3 characteristics …

In this week's episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith sat down with Jeff and Mikki Martin from The Brand X Method. Jeff and Mikki, the developers of CrossFit Kids, are the leaders in youth fitness education. 00:50 - 1:10 Opening 1:10 - 5:43 Who is Brand X? 5:53 - 18:01 Evolution in kids fitness over the last 20 years 18:01…

Workout nutrition timing—the key to fitness gains, or overblown hype? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss all things pre and post workout nutrition. 00:53- 4:07 Opening 4:07 - 8:40 Nutrition timing 8:40 - 9:35 How exercise effects hydration 9:35 - 15:14 Macros - Protein 15:14 - 25:14 Macros - Carb…

One of the biggest mistakes coaches make is overcomplicating fitness. The real secret to coaching success? Keep It Simple, Stupid! In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith talk about why fitness doesn’t need to be as complicated as many make it out to be and how to simplify your coaching practice. 00:50 - 1:50…

What are the factors that go into building serious strength? Download our free Strength Coach's Manual here: https://www.opexfit.com/free-downloads/strength-coachs-manual In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith talk about the four most important principles for building strength: 00:35 - 02:46 Intro to podcast…

You might know how much you can back squat, but what about your average price point per client or retention rate? We all follow the principle of Assess, Don’t Guess in the gym. The same applies to how you conduct your business. In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith talk about the numbers that every professi…

What does career progression look like as a fitness professional? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith discuss the five stages of the Coach's Lifecycle. - What persona matters most at each stage: the artist, manager, or entrepreneur - The roles and expectations of each - The $$ you can expect to make as you prog…

Can you improve endurance, strength, and hypertrophy at the same time? With principles of concurrent training the answer is yes, but there are trade-offs to be aware of and best practices to avoid interference. Sign up for the FREE course, Organizing Daily Training At Home and in the Gym: https://www.opexfit.com/free-downloads/programming-daily-tra…

Women’s health is one of the most under researched and overlooked areas in the fitness industry, but Melissa Guitron is here to change that. CCP Coaches - join us for Melissa's presentation by grabbing your Coaches Summit passes here for $75 OFF: https://www.opexfit.com/coaches-summit-october-2021 Follow Melissa on Instagram: @melissa_tron or visit…

In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith caught up with Michael Bann. CCP Coaches - join us for Michael's presentation by grabbing your Coaches Summit passes here for $75 OFF: https://www.opexfit.com/coaches-summit-october-2021 Follow Michael on Instagram: @coachmichaelbann 00:00 - 01:33 Introduction to Michae…

Can group fitness and individual design coexist? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith chatted with special guest Brandon Wilton, owner of CrossFit South Bend. CCP Coaches - grab your Coaches Summit passes here: https://www.opexfit.com/coaches-summit-october-2021 Follow Brandon on Instagram: @coachbrandonwi…

Can you continue to get fitter and build strength training with bodyweight only? In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith are talking all about bodyweight-only program design. 00:00- 04:21 Welcome and Coaches’ Summit - buy your pass here for $75 off: https://www.opexfit.com/coaches-summit-october-2021 04:21 - …

Culture is an incredibly important part of creating a successful gym, and over the years we’ve seen coaches do it well, and others make critical mistakes. In this week’s episode of Back Room Talk, Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith are talking about the do’s and don'ts for creating a great gym culture. 00:00 - 02:18 Intro to episode 02:18 - 17:31 The …

In the week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith go deep on a favorite program design principle: the Muscle Endurance Tree. Plus, we take a moment to discuss the current COVID landscape, new lockdowns in certain areas, and how gym owners can be prepared if they have to close again. 00:00 - 14:33 Discussion about Covid …

Every fitness niche comes with it’s own language, behaviors, and identity. In the week’s episode of Back Room Talk, hosts Carl Hardwick and Georgia Smith talk about some of the defining characteristics of different fitness types. 00:00 - 00:23 Intro 00:23 - 08:36 Sha’carri Richardson article: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/31772245/shacar…

Unilateral vs Bilateral training - which one is best? As always, it depends! 00:00 - 01:38: Intro 01:38 - 14:28: College sport sponsorships - https://www.npr.org/2021/06/28/1010129443/a-new-era-dawns-in-college-sports-as-the-ncaa-scrambles-to-keep-up 14:28 - 17:59: Unilateral vs. Bilateral - why we're thinking about it 17:59 - 22:59: Absolute Stren…