The Judd Lienhard Podcast

Is full range of motion always better? Or is that just dogmatic gym culture pretending context doesn’t matter?In this solo episode, Judd Lienhard—former Army Ranger, college linebacker, and strength & performance coach with 15+ years of experience—breaks down the full range of motion vs partial range of motion debate without the internet nonsense.Train smarter with Judd’s performance-based programs. Get access to Judd Lienhard’s full training app—strength, athletic development, mobility, and conditioning built for real bodies, not dogma. Start your FREE 7-day trial now: JuddLienhard.comThis episode covers:Why “full range of motion” is a misleading, context-dependent termWhen partial reps actually build MORE strength and powerHow injuries, limb length, joint structure, and mobility change what “optimal” looks likeWhy elite athletes and top strength coaches intentionally limit range of motionThe role of hypertrophy vs strength vs athletic performanceHow fatigue, CNS load, and season timing should influence exercise selectionWhen accommodating resistance (bands & chains) makes more sense than dogmaIf your goal is athletic performance, long-term strength, or injury-resilient training, this episode will challenge the idea that deeper is always better—and explain why smart training adapts to the athlete, not ideology.🎧 Whether you’re a strength coach, athlete, lifter, or serious gym-goer, this episode will change how you think about reps, depth, and performance.Listen, subscribe, and leave a review to support the show. New episodes drop weekly. 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. ⭐️🎧🔥

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 / Timestamps00:00 Training Pain vs. Injury — When to Push or Shut It Down03:54 Building Muscle After 40 — What Actually Changes06:30 Early Warning Signs That Lead to Major Injuries07:45 Can You Still Build Explosiveness After 40?09:40 Power vs. Strength vs. Endurance as You Age11:15 Dead-Stop Training & Ballistic Movements13:05 HRV, Sleep & Wearable Data15:47 Mobility vs. Flexibility20:15 Testosterone, TRT & Hormone Optimization26:30 Natural Ways to Optimize Testosterone30:10 Estrogen, Mood, Sleep & PerformanceAbout the ShowThe 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. ⭐️🎧🔥

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. hypertrophyWhy training to failure is often misunderstoodHow volume, intensity, and frequency really affect resultsWhy compound lifts to failure can hold athletes backThe minimal effective dose vs. optimal volume for muscle growthHow training age, recovery, and lifestyle change what works bestJudd 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. ⭐️🎧🔥

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 regulatorsWhy mobility and stability must come before heavier liftingWhat actually causes chronic lower-back tightness—and how to fix itThe role of coiling, rotation, and unconventional training toolsRows vs. pulldowns for back developmentHow aging shifts fat-loss and recovery strategiesWhen lifting belts help—and when they make you weakerTrap-bar deadlift advantages for posture and biomechanicsHow Judd balances martial arts with strength trainingWhat “success” means to Judd beyond training and performanceIf 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 @juddlienhardTrain 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. ⭐️🎧🔥

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 CoveredOlympic lifts vs. power alternativesCrossFit standards and movement dysfunctionFunctional training: where it went wrong (and right)Isolation work & machine training for athletesHow identity sabotages training decisionsAthlete vs. hybrid athlete: redefining the termApex: building a simple, brutal competition modelKettlebells, accommodating resistance & hypertrophy mythsMike Israetel controversies & criticism in the fitness worldPower, speed, and why sprinting is a different animalSteroids, TRT, stigma & hormone realitiesDeadlifting for athletes: when it mattersCNS fatigue myths and programming mistakesFollow Tim RileyInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/timrileytraining/Coach ’Em Up Podcast — https://open.spotify.com/show/4wjmPXjz59op5E5uPg5ATkFollow Judd LienhardInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/juddlienhard/YouTube — hthttps://www.youtube.com/@JuddLienhard👉 Try Judd’s Training App — Free for 7 Days https://www.juddlienhard.comEpisode Timestamps00:00 – 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. ⭐️🎧🔥