Andy Van Strength and Conditioning

Good morning and welcome back! Zack and I are checking into East Nashville Beer works drinking a six pack and talking about six packs (abs). Today we're discussing the ab exercises we like to do both as coaches and trainees, as well as our evolution of ab training over the years - from doing a … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 88: Ab Blaster 5000

Good morning and welcome back! Zack and I are checking into East Nashville Beer works and Zack is freshly back from a seminar in Minneapolis. Zack shares his experience and what he learned and all the fun he enjoyed while away for the weekend. Next, we turn our attention to "groundhogs' day," or the feeling … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 87: Minneapolis Memories and Unstucking your Training

Good morning and welcome back! Today, Zack and I are checking back in at East Nashville Beer works and talking shop. Our fans ask: what do you think of ankle mobility drills, and how and when do you use them? Zack and I share our thoughts on mobility drills, squatting, and how we approach these … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 86: To Mobilize or Not to Mobilize?

Good morning and welcome back to the show! Today, Zack and I are chatting ergs: with a gym that's 99% complete with all the toys I could ever want (or can fit in a tight space) I'm looking to add a piece of cardio/conditioning equipment, so Zack helps me figure that out. Now, with summer … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 85: Ergs, Eggs, and Exercise Progressions

Good morning and welcome back! Today, Zack and I are pondering the "what ifs" when it comes to the business of fitness: what could we do, where could we go, and how could our businesses and our skillsets set us apart professionally in the future? After all these years of coaching and training, what could … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 84: Sloths and Tortoises

Good morning and welcome back to the show! This week Zack and I welcome another kettlebell nerd and stellar fitness coach, Vanessa Edwards, to the podcast to chat about fitness and gym ownership. Vanessa got her start when she was dealing with perpetual back pain. She sought treatment through chiropractors and Physical Therapists but eventually … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 83: Special Guest Vanessa Edwards on Fixing your Body through Lifting and Gym Ownership

Good morning and welcome back to the A2Z Podcast! This week Zack and I are doing an audit: when it comes to coaching and running a business, how do we improve? What does that look like? How do we fit in the fitness market on a local scale (for me and my brick-and-mortar) or a … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 82: Making a Difference in the Fitness Universe

Good morning and welcome back! Today, Zack and I are trying out some new hardware with our podcast in an effort to continue improving the user experience! When it comes to choosing the right exercise, training program, or diet, we're always looking for that "magic bullet" or "best" this or that in an effort to … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 81: Choosing “Best” vs. “Optimal”

Good morning and welcome back! Today Zack and I are welcoming a special guest and close friend of mine, Brian Murray of Motive Training. Brian has worked in many facets of the fitness industry and is a helluva trainer and business owner. He owns Motive Training in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and currently lives in Austin, … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 80: Three Fitpros, One Mic, Big Aspirations

Good morning and welcome back! Today, Zack and I are talking about autoregulation. We've all had stellar gym days where we lifted big ass weights and set PRs and everyone hoisted us on their shoulders and cheered us on. And we've also had those days where we feel like we've been hit by a truck … Continue reading A2Z No BS Episode 79: RPE/RIR and Overrated Exercises (send hate mail)