The Judd Lienhard Podcast

1d ago

Training pain vs. injury. Building muscle after 40. TRT. Mobility. HRV. Explosiveness as you age. In this Q&A episode of The Judd Lienhard Podcast , Judd answers some of the most common (and most misunderstood) questions around training, recovery, and performance after 40. If you’ve ever questioned whether you should push through discomfort or back off, or wondered how aging actually affects strength, power, and recovery, this episode is for you. Judd breaks down how to distinguish normal training pain from real injury signals, why loss of power and strength inhibition are red flags you shouldn’t ignore, and how most injuries build slowly long before something “goes wrong.” He explains how smarter training adjustments help you continue progressing instead of ending up sidelined. The conversation also covers muscle growth after 40, explosiveness and power development, mobility versus flexibility, HRV and wearable data, and an honest discussion on testosterone, TRT, and hormone optimization. This episode is for anyone who wants to train hard, stay athletic, and make smarter decisions as they get older, without wrecking their body in the process. Episode Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 Training Pain vs. Injury — When to Push or Shut It Down 03:54 Building Muscle After 40 — What Actually Changes 06:30 Early Warning Signs That Lead to Major Injuries 07:45 Can You Still Build Explosiveness After 40? 09:40 Power vs. Strength vs. Endurance as You Age 11:15 Dead-Stop Training & Ballistic Movements 13:05 HRV, Sleep & Wearable Data 15:47 Mobility vs. Flexibility 20:15 Testosterone, TRT & Hormone Optimization 26:30 Natural Ways to Optimize Testosterone 30:10 Estrogen, Mood, Sleep & Performance About the Show The Judd Lienhard Podcast focuses on strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Hosted by performance coach and former Army Ranger Judd Lienhard, the show breaks down training, mindset, and performance. New episodes drop on Tuesdays. Q&A episodes drop on Thursdays. Follow Judd Lienhard: 📲 Instagram: @juddlienhard 📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@juddlienhard Train with Judd: juddlienhard.com 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

3d ago

If you’re training hard but unsure whether high volume or low volume training actually builds more strength and muscle, this episode is for you. Judd Lienhard breaks down the long-running debate around training volume, intensity, and frequency , explaining what science and real-world coaching experience actually show—and how to apply it to your own training. 👉 Try Judd’s training app free for 7 days and train with the same principles discussed in this episode: strength, athleticism, and long-term progress. You’ll learn: The difference between training for strength vs. hypertrophy Why training to failure is often misunderstood How volume, intensity, and frequency really affect results Why compound lifts to failure can hold athletes back The minimal effective dose vs. optimal volume for muscle growth How training age, recovery, and lifestyle change what works best Judd also explains why elite systems—from old-school bodybuilding to extreme Olympic weightlifting models—show what the body can adapt to, but why smarter programming wins long-term. If you’re deciding between high-volume or low-volume training , this episode will help you train with clarity, confidence, and purpose—without wasting time in the gym. Train with Judd Lienhard Free 7-Day Trial: juddlienhard.com Instagram: @juddlienhard YouTube: Judd Lienhard 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Dec 11

In this Q&A episode, Judd Lienhard breaks down the real mechanics behind training timing, back pain, mobility, recovery, and the exercises that actually build a stronger, more athletic body after 30, 40, and 50. Listeners asked Judd about training schedules, sciatica, lower-back tightness, unconventional lifts, posture, belts, trap-bar deadlifts, martial arts, and long-term muscle maintenance—and Judd gives detailed, practical answers rooted in biomechanics, coaching experience, and real-world application. Topics covered in this episode: The real best time of day to train (and why hormones matter less than you think) Sleep quality, stress, and lifestyle as training regulators Why mobility and stability must come before heavier lifting What actually causes chronic lower-back tightness—and how to fix it The role of coiling, rotation, and unconventional training tools Rows vs. pulldowns for back development How aging shifts fat-loss and recovery strategies When lifting belts help—and when they make you weaker Trap-bar deadlift advantages for posture and biomechanics How Judd balances martial arts with strength training What “success” means to Judd beyond training and performance If you’re trying to train smarter, reduce injury, stay athletic as you age, and understand the principles that truly move the needle, this episode is for you. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 5a CST. Follow Judd Lienhard on Instagram @juddlienhard Train Judd’s MASS Method inside his app: juddlienhard.com 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Dec 9

Performance coach Tim Riley returns to the Judd Lienhard Podcast for a high-level conversation on hybrid athletes, TRT, Olympic lifting, CrossFit culture, movement selection, and what truly drives athletic development today. Tim has coached NFL athletes, Olympians, and elite competitors across multiple sports. In this episode, he and Judd break down the real principles behind power development, identity traps, steroid culture, coaching philosophy, programming mistakes, and how the fitness world has shifted over the last decade. You’ll hear stories from NFL Combine prep, wild athlete experiences (Micah Parsons and Ja’Marr Chase get mentioned), plus myth-busting on hypertrophy dogma, kettlebell hate, Mike Israetel controversies, CNS fatigue, deadlift debates, mobility misconceptions, and more. If you're an athlete, coach, or hybrid lifter chasing your potential, this episode will challenge your thinking and sharpen your approach to training. Topics Covered Olympic lifts vs. power alternatives CrossFit standards and movement dysfunction Functional training: where it went wrong (and right) Isolation work & machine training for athletes How identity sabotages training decisions Athlete vs. hybrid athlete: redefining the term Apex: building a simple, brutal competition model Kettlebells, accommodating resistance & hypertrophy myths Mike Israetel controversies & criticism in the fitness world Power, speed, and why sprinting is a different animal Steroids, TRT, stigma & hormone realities Deadlifting for athletes: when it matters CNS fatigue myths and programming mistakes Follow Tim Riley Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/timrileytraining/ Coach ’Em Up Podcast — https://open.spotify.com/show/4wjmPXjz59op5E5uPg5ATk Follow Judd Lienhard Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/juddlienhard/ YouTube — hthttps://www.youtube.com/@JuddLienhard 👉 Try Judd’s Training App — Free for 7 Days https://www.juddlienhard.com Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Olympic lifting debates 03:20 – Power training adaptations 10:55 – The evolution of “functional training” 15:20 – Isolation work & addressing weak links 22:40 – What defines an “athlete”? 28:10 – Apex: simple, brutal athletic competition 33:55 – CrossFit culture & misconceptions 40:20 – Mike Israetel: genius, autism, and criticism 47:00 – Kettlebells & hypertrophy dogma 58:20 – Strength, speed & sprinting 72:10 – TRT stigma & hormone realities 78:40 – Steroids, myths & athletic enhancement 85:50 – Deadlifts: when they matter 92:30 – CNS fatigue myths 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Dec 4

🎙 Q&A with Judd Lienhard: Cycling + Strength Training, Joint Pain Fixes, Foot Mechanics, Training While Sick & More In this performance-focused Q&A, Judd Lienhard answers some of the most common training questions athletes are asking today. From combining cycling with weight training, to resolving chronic joint pain, improving foot mechanics, training decisions when you’re sick, prepping for SF selection, and choosing the right program—Judd breaks down every topic with simple, science-backed guidance. This episode blends biomechanics, physiology, and practical strength strategy to help you train smarter, stay athletic for life, and avoid wasting time on the wrong methods. Topics Covered: • How to pair cycling with effective strength training • Why Judd uses the Zercher squat pattern • Joint pain solutions: tendons, tracking, arthritis & more • When to train vs rest while sick • How to build robustness and work capacity for SF selection • Foot strength, gait mechanics & barefoot training considerations • How to choose a training program that actually works for you • Equipment needed for Judd’s MASS Method training app • Whether the Arnold-style shoulder press is useful or overrated Follow Judd Lienhard: Instagram: @juddlienhard Training App (MASS Method – 7-day free trial): https://www.juddlienhard.com/ About the Judd Lienhard Podcast: The Judd Lienhard Podcast is about strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Hosted by performance coach and Army Ranger veteran Judd Lienhard, the show breaks down training, mindset, and modern human performance. • Full-length episodes every Tuesday at 5 AM CST • Q&A episodes every Thursday at 5 AM CST 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Dec 2

What does functional fitness actually mean—and how do you know if your training is truly functional? In this episode, performance coach Judd Lienhard breaks down one of the most overused and misunderstood concepts in the fitness industry. Judd explains what “functionality” really is, why most definitions miss the mark, and how to determine which exercises actually carry over to strength, movement, and real-world capability. He explores why flashy or “functional-looking” movements often fail, why no exercise is inherently functional or nonfunctional, and how to design training that supports the way you live, perform, and move. You’ll learn: How to determine whether an exercise is functional for your goals Why the “it must look functional” mentality leads people astray The difference between training strength vs. endurance (and why it matters) Why lunges often build more real-world capability than maxing out squats How isolating muscles can sometimes be the most functional choice Why aesthetics still matter for long-term capability and resilience Ultimately, real functional fitness is individualized, purpose-driven, and built around the demands of your actual life—not trends, internet dogma, or theoretical scenarios. Judd gives you a clear, practical framework for building training that makes you stronger, more capable, and more athletic. Train with Judd Start your 7-day free trial of Judd’s fitness app — the exclusive home of MASS Method programming for movement, athleticism, strength, and speed. https://www.juddlienhard.com About the Show The Judd Lienhard Podcast explores what it means to Always Be An Athlete — in mind, body, and life. Hosted by former Army Ranger, college linebacker, and performance coach Judd Lienhard. New episodes every Tuesday at 5a CST. Follow Judd Instagram: instagram.com/juddlienhard/ YouTube: youtube.com/@juddlienhard 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Nov 27

In this Q&A session, Judd Lienhard breaks down your most requested training topics—from youth athletic development and play-based strength foundations, to hypertrophy work for athletes, BJJ conditioning, smart recovery strategies, and practical muscle-building nutrition. If you want to train smarter, stay athletic for life, and avoid the noise of overly complicated fitness advice, this episode delivers clear, actionable answers. Topics Covered Child training and play-based strength foundations Transitioning from athlete-style training to general performance Hypertrophy for athletes: what helps and what doesn’t Nutrition for muscle gain: protein, carbs, and timing Recovery and intensity management When band and isometric days actually make sense Strength and conditioning for BJJ athletes Judd’s favorite old-school lifts Timestamps 0:17 – Child training: strength, athleticism & play-based learning 2:46 – Transitioning from athlete training to “normal” training 4:18 – Hypertrophy for athletes: benefits & limitations 5:45 – Nutrition for muscle gain: protein, carbs & timing 7:54 – Recovery strategies: intensity vs difficulty 10:41 – Band + isometric days: when they make sense 11:48 – Strength & conditioning for BJJ athletes 14:25 – Judd’s favorite old-school lifts About the Judd Lienhard Podcast The Judd Lienhard Podcast explores strength, discipline, and athletic development for real life. Hosted by Judd Lienhard—Army Ranger, performance coach, and creator of the MASS Method—the show breaks down training, mindset, and human performance without the fluff. Full-length episodes release every Tuesday at 5 a.m. CST, and Q&A episodes release Thursdays at 5 a.m. CST. Follow Judd Lienhard Instagram: @juddlienhard YouTube: @juddlienhard Judd's Fitness App (7-day free trial): https://www.juddlienhard.com/ 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥

Nov 25

In this episode, Judd sits down with Peloton instructor and hybrid athlete Logan Aldridge to explore what it really means to maintain an athlete mindset through injury, adversity, and unexpected setbacks. Logan lost his arm at 13 in a traumatic accident—but what makes his story powerful isn’t the injury, it’s the mindset he built because of it. Judd and Logan break down the practical mental skills athletes use to stay grounded and keep progressing when training gets disrupted. You’ll learn how Logan rebuilt his confidence, questioned his limiting beliefs, took action before conditions were perfect, created momentum during rehab, and turned a disadvantage into a genuine advantage. Whether you're working through an injury, struggling with motivation, or navigating a tough season of life, this conversation gives you the tools to move forward with clarity, intention, and confidence. Connect with Judd Build strength, athleticism, and discipline—every season of life—with Judd’s daily training programs: 👉 Judd Lienhard Training App: https://www.juddlienhard.com/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juddlienhard/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@juddlienhard Connect with Logan Aldridge 👉 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/loganaldridge 👉 Website: https://www.loganaldridge.com 👉 Peloton : Search "Logan Aldridge" on the Peloton platform 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 The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits. Enjoyed this conversation? Consider sharing it with a friend. Subscribe, Rate, & Review to help us bring you more epic conversations. ⭐️🎧🔥