SOFLETE Performance

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140: Non Superficial BS Oct 14, 2026

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Authenticity, Identity, and Complexity from the Art of Coaching Conference

Coach Giovani, Brent Phillips, and Coach Matt unpack a wide-ranging discussion that starts with a cyclist he helped on the way to the recording and expands into physical therapy, pain management, identity, and the cost of high-performance careers. The episode centers on takeaways from the Art of Coaching conference, where presenters wrestled with authenticity, external validation, and the complexity of human performance.

139: Shreddin' Dirt In Moab Oct 07, 2026

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Join us as we dive into the lessons learned from an epic mountain biking trip! 🚵‍♂️ In this episode of the Softly Performance Podcast, Coach G and Coach Matt discuss key takeaways on gear selection, fatigue management, and calorie consumption that apply to all endurance sports, not just mountain biking. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just curious about the principles of performance, this episode is packed with insights!
Key takeaways:
* Understand the importance of gear selection for optimal performance.
* Learn how to manage fatigue effectively during long rides.
* Discover the best practices for calorie consumption to fuel your adventures.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:19 Overview of the mountain biking trip
01:04 Key lessons from the trip
04:08 Trail experiences and challenges
10:02 Gear selection insights
15:25 Nutrition strategies for endurance
20:30 Mental preparation for high-intensity rides
25:45 Recovery tips post-ride
30:00 Future plans and reflections
What's your biggest challenge with endurance sports? Drop it in the comments!
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#MountainBiking #EnduranceTraining #PerformancePodcast
Music licensed through Soundstripe.
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138: Cruel Tutelage of Pai Mei Sep 30, 2026

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How to Read Research Without Getting Misled

This episode is about how to evaluate research with more discipline and less hype. Giovani is joined by Coach Matt and Brent for a practical breakdown of what actually matters in a study, from sample size and methods to p values, R squared, study design, and whether the findings apply to real people in the real world.We discuss why abstracts are not enough, why observational research is not the same as prescriptive guidance, and how funding, publication bias, and participant selection can shape what a study seems to say.

(00:00) Why this episode is about evidence, not just opinions
(02:19) Abstracts vs methods and what a study is really asking
(03:55) Observational data is not the same as prescription
(05:55) P value basics and why significance gets abused
(07:25) How funding and grants shape research questions
(09:09) Does this study even matter to your population?
(13:21) Study design, control, and why bigger samples are harder to manage
(15:28) Randomized controlled trials vs case studies
(17:25) Meta analyses and review articles explained
(18:58) Why medical research and performance research are not the same problem
(21:06) R squared, measurement error, and why trends matter more than single numbers
(24:00) Wearables, accuracy, and consistency over perfection
(26:37) Citation count is not truth, but it is a clue
(27:32) Correlation is not causation and why that distinction matters
(29:39) Injury prevention vs injury mitigation in real coaching language
(32:09) Why current goals should not override the full performance picture
(35:04) Coaching experience as its own form of evidence
(37:31) Raider, recovery, and scaling training for the right population
(41:33) Pool training, underwater swims, and task-specific adaptation
(49:19) Getting better by attacking the thing you suck at
(54:51) Sooner vs faster in shooting and the task transfer tax
(57:28) Publication bias and why negative results are harder to find
(58:14) Reaching out to researchers and reading beyond the abstract
(61:35) Homework: read one study this month and verify the source

137: Fear Is The Little Death Sep 23, 2026

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Giovani hosts Coach Matt and Brent for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with Giovani’s first big Moab mountain bike trip and expands into training theory, endurance specificity, and tactical human performance. It’s a practical episode about how different demands shape preparation, from bike fitness and recovery to the reality of movement, load carriage, and mobility in the field.
In this episode, Giovani shares his current mountain biking build-up, Matt pressures him to explain the full context, and Brent adds firsthand Moab, racing, and tactical experience. The discussion moves naturally between sport and operational performance, with a strong theme of not over-specializing too early.

136: Tissue Issues and Conditioning Sep 16, 2026

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In this episode, Giovani, Brent, and Matt explore conditioning progressions, tactical training, and the importance of adaptability in athletic performance. They share practical insights for designing effective training protocols for military, law enforcement, and sports athletes.

135: Fortitude Nutrition With Ariah Fish Sep 09, 2026

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Performance dietitian Ariah Fish joins Coach G and Coach Matt to unpack practical nutrition for athletes, tactical professionals, and anyone training hard. They cover fueling with carbohydrates, recovery nutrition, hydration and electrolytes, how to spot nutrition misinformation online, and why sustainable habits matter more than chasing trends.

Ariah also shares her work supporting professional athletes, including the Phoenix Mercury, and discusses nutrition for female performance, travel and sleep strategies, and a practical look at supplements such as creatine, fish oil, tart cherry, beta-alanine, and beet-based nitric oxide products.

https://www.fortitudesn.com/

134: Speak To Your Mother Aug 26, 2026

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Giovani Urrutia and Coach Matt debrief day three of Tactical Strength and Conditioning Association training, focusing on the ideas that actually change practice versus the ones that just sound good in a room. They compare culture, data, and coaching communication across tactical sport, military, and first responder settings, with a strong throughline of keeping things simple enough for stakeholders to use.In this episode, Giovani and Matt share lessons from the conference floor, from cultural change and common language to data interpretation, cognitive loading, and recovery tech. They also dig into what makes a coach effective when you are stepping into a new environment and why the best coaching often looks more like service than authority.

133: Overloading The Chassis Aug 19, 2026

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Periodization Is Not Dead: Tactical Training, Contrast Work, and Real-World Readiness

Coach Giovani, Coach Brent Phillips, and Coach Matt unpack the claim that “periodization is dead” and argue that the real issue is not periodization itself, but bad, dogmatic takes stripped of context. They connect training theory to tactical athletes, selection prep, and the practical reality that most people need a plan that balances readiness, recovery, and performance.We discuss why training must match the athlete’s environment, why contrast training can be useful for advanced athletes, and how intent, buy-in, and logistics matter just as much as the programming on paper.

132: The Other Aug 12, 2026

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Coach Giovani and Coach Matt unpack relatedness from self-determination theory and apply it to military, first responder, and civilian environments. They dig into how inclusion and exclusion shape behavior, why some people become “the other” in a group, and how leaders can use environment, accountability, and shared standards to help people shift from external motivation to real internal buy-in.

In this episode, Giovani also shares field examples from training special operations candidates, working with difficult Marines, and helping people rebuild identity and community after leaving service. Matt adds perspective on transition, belonging, and the value of finding the right tribe outside the military.

131: Testosterone Screening and The Line of Departure Aug 05, 2026

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In this episode, Coach Matt and Coach Giovani delve into the implications of recent policy shifts toward testosterone screening in military and first responder communities. They discuss the potential benefits, risks, and logistical challenges, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle factors and ongoing research. The conversation also explores broader issues like preventative health, data collection, and the cultural aspects of fitness and medical intervention in tactical settings.

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