Step into the world of Power Athlete Radio, where your journey towards peak performance is ignited with unwavering passion.
Brace yourself for an electrifying experience unlike any other. Led by the indomitable spirit of John Welbourn, a true legend of the NFL and the visionary force behind Power Athlete, this podcast serves as a gateway to unlocking your fullest potential.
Prepare to be enthralled as Welbourn fearlessly dissects the greatest minds in strength and conditioning while unravelling the secrets of human performance and life.
But make no mistake, dear listener, our mission goes far beyond mere information. Together we will Destroy Mediocrity and work to Empower your Performance.
So, whether your goal is to Be the Hammer, Eat the Weak or simply, Moving The Dirt, just know, you have arrived at your destined destination. Welcome to Power Athlete Radio, where greatness is born, nurtured, and unleashed upon the world.
RECOMMENDED EPISODES
POWER THE PODCAST
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LATEST EPISODES
Ep 855 – Madeleine Conti on Real Kettlebell Strength
Madeleine Conti joins John to break down kettlebell training, event prep, and how to build real strength that carries beyond the gym. Known for her no-nonsense approach, she shares how she programs kettlebell workouts, where most athletes go wrong, and how she’s preparing for her upcoming event. If you want smarter kettlebell training, better results, and zero fluff, this episode delivers.
Ep 854 – Sabrina Shapiro on Mastering Performance Under Pressure
Sabrina Shapiro joins John to break down mental training, performance anxiety, and resilience for athletes and high performers. From her NCAA fencing career to coaching mindset under pressure, she shares practical tools to build confidence, develop self-compassion, and perform when it matters most.
Ep 853 – The Grind to ADCC w/ Felipe Costa
Felipe Costa joins John to break down his upcoming fight, ADCC 2026 preparation, and the realities of elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From training intensity and mindset to strength, conditioning, and recovery, Costa shares what it takes to compete (and win) at the highest level.
Ep 852 – How to Bulletproof Your Body w/ Dr. John Rusin
Dr. John Rusin lays out how to bulletproof your body with smarter programming, better movement, and a no-BS approach to pain-free performance. We break down the biggest mistakes in modern training, why early specialization is wrecking athletes, and how a lack of movement diversity is setting you up for breakdown. If you want to build real strength, stay injury-free, and keep performing for the long haul, this is the blueprint.
UNLEASH YOUR INNER ATHLETE
Go from Average Joe to MVP with performance programming battle tested at the highest level.
Ep 851 – Pat Barber on Raising Wolves in a World of Sheep
Raising kids in today’s world isn’t about comfort, it’s about competence. John sits down with former CrossFit Games athlete, Pat Barber, to talk fatherhood, masculinity, and the responsibility of raising capable humans in a culture that’s gone soft. If you want to raise tough kids, build stronger families, and develop the kind of competence that actually matters in the real world, this conversation is for you.
Ep 850 – Why Women Over 40 Need the Barbell w/ Hailey Babcock
Think strength training is optional after 40? Think again. Hailey Babcock joins John to unpack the real challenges women face in midlife. From hormones and muscle loss to the misinformation dominating social media, and why picking up heavy weight might be the most important health decision women make after 40.
Ep 849 – Hard-Earned Hypertrophy Lessons
John sits down with resident Power Athlete Dragon Slayer, Arash Soofiani, to share the hard-earned hypertrophy lessons they wish they’d known starting out. From mistakes that kill gains to strategies that actually work. Tune in for tips on building muscle, strength, and resilience.
Ep 848 – Training for the Olympics of Grappling
Felipe Costa and Victor Hugo join John to break down how they train for the ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championship, the “Olympics of grappling”. Learn elite strength and conditioning strategies, BJJ training methods, recovery protocols, and the mindset required to compete at the highest level of submission wrestling.
UNLEASH YOUR INNER ATHLETE
Go from Average Joe to MVP with performance programming battle tested at the highest level.
Ep 835 – Why Most Gyms Fail w/ Joe Riggio
Most gym owners don’t fail because of training; they fail because they don’t understand business. Joe Riggio of Business of Strength sits down with John to break down why equipment-heavy gyms bleed cash, and how small, efficient boutique gyms with clear pricing, strong marketing, and the right location consistently outperform the competition. They dive into real sales strategy, the power of in-person community, and why investing in mentorship beats lurking online. If you’re serious about building a profitable gym, this conversation is your blueprint.
Ep 834 – The Truth About Hot & Cold Therapy w/ Dr Tom Seager
Hot and cold therapy has become the latest fitness obsession, from ice baths and cryo chambers to infrared saunas. But how much of what you’re hearing online is actually true? Dr. Tom Seager, PhD and expert in environmental stress physiology, joins John to break down the real science behind thermal stress. They uncover how controlled exposure to heat and cold can improve recovery, boost metabolism, and even help manage Type 2 and Type 3 diabetes. If you want to know what really works, and what’s just influencer noise, this episode delivers the truth behind the temperature.
Ep 833 – Micro-Impacts & Brain Health w/ Dr Hunter Waldman
Certified Power Athlete Coach, Dr Hunter Waldman, breaks down the hidden world of micro-impacts, those sub-concussive hits that slowly chip away at your brain health, focus, and performance. In this talk from the Power Athlete Coach Collective, Hunter dives into what the latest research says about repeated head trauma, the role of nutrition and supplements in recovery, and how athletes can build true brain resilience for the long game.
Ep 832 – Robb Wolf on Nutrition, Ego & the Death of a Movement
Robb Wolf sits down with John to break down the rise and fall of CrossFit, from its explosive beginnings to the moment it lost its way. They dig into the truth about Paleo nutrition, the diet wars that followed, and how performance got buried under hype. This is an unfiltered look at what went wrong in fitness, and what it’ll take to rebuild it.
