PODCAST EPISODES

82: Movement is Therapy with Cornel Driessen

Cornel Driessen has worked with the worlds greatest golfers. Literally, the #1 ranked golfers in the world. His list includes Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Charl Schwartzel, Ian Poulter and others. Not a bad crew, huh?

As a physical therapist and a strength coach, Cornel feels that there really isn’t a distinct line that dictates whether a client is in need of “therapy” or “athletic performance” because in actuality, “movement is therapy.” All of his efforts with his clients/players is basically boils down to making sure they are moving well and preventing injury. While each player has his own specific needs regarding injury prevention and optimizing performance, the foundation is laid in the balance of their movement.

April 1, 2016 No Comments

81: Finding Mastery in your Game with Dr. Michael Gervais

Dr. Michael Gervais joins us in this episode to discuss finding mastery in everything that we do, including our golf game. Dr. Gervais is one of the world’s leading experts in psychology when it comes to working with high performance individuals, especially athletes. Included in his resume is working with Coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle SeaHawks, Red Bull extreme athletes, and corporate execs and teams striving for higher performance. In this episode, he takes us on a journey of exploration of our inner selves and desires. Why do you play golf, and what does dictate for you regarding your goals and results? Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Dr. Michael Gervais’ Background California Licensed psychologist specializing in high performance, he works in the trenches of high-stakes environments, where there is no luxury for mistakes, hesitation, or failure to respond. He has created a performance model that allows people to achieve their maximum potential, whether on or off the field. A published, peer-reviewed author and recognized speaker on human performance issues, Dr. Gervais has been featured by ESPN, CNN, NFL Network, FUELtv, Red Bull TV, Extra, The Huffington Post, GolfersMD, South Bay magazine and others. Host of the Finding Mastery Podcast Psychologist working witht he Seattle SeaHawks Co-Founder of WinForever with Coach Pete Carroll Psychologist to multiple extreme athletes, including Red Bull athlete Felix Baugartner, aka. the dude that jumped from outer-space! Highlights from this Episode Dr. Gervais breaks down what he does as a psychologist working with athletes and individuals in high performance situations. What are the differences/similarities in working with the extreme athletes compared to working with other athletes and individuals. Dr. G talks about what he has learned from the “masters” he has interviewed on his podcast. How do we get better at handling disappointments? and how do we train ourselves to be “more comfortable being uncomfortable?” Dr. Gervais gives us some practical application for finding mindfulness in our daily lives and how this applies to golf. We discuss the “space between hesitation and commitment” and how important that is for performance. The Razor’s Edge, what is it and

March 25, 2016 No Comments

80: Building your swing from the GROUND up! with John Thorp – BodiTrak Sports

John Thorp, from BodiTrak Sports joins us in this episode to discuss a topic in golf and other sports that has been talked about, but not often studied, which is the relationship that an athlete has with the ground. Ground mechanics are often noted as a huge part of the golf swing, but until now, it has not been easy to actually measure these forces without a complete research lab. With their newest technology, Boditrak has changed the game as it relates to the golf swing. In this episode, we will not only discuss why looking at the feet and pressures on the ground are so important, but also how their technology has been able to take this to the driving range, the course, and just about anywhere. And golf is just the beginning. . . Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: John Thorp’s Background Grew up in Canada Played hockey, not golf growing up. President of BodiTrak Sports CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? Happy Gilmore. It was his favorite movie growing up. Plus he’s a Canadian, so anything to do with hockey is basically a given. One of the most influential People, Books, or Experiences in your life: Terry Hashimoto Highlights from this Episode John and I discuss the relationship between an athlete and the ground and why it’s so important to understand. John tells us the story behind BodiTrak Sports, where it all started and some of the plans for the future. We discuss the implications of being able to use this technology on the range, on the course, in the gym, etc. John has been very involved in the Level One TPI seminars over the past several months, which has allowed both BodiTrak and TPI to analyze and discover connections between the Big 12 swing characteristics and what is going on in the feet of the golfer. Some of the main takeaways that you may want to note in your own swing are your balance positions at setup and the loading of weight into the trail foot during and at the top of the backswing. John talks about how looking

March 18, 2016 No Comments

79: Getting Strong and Playing Strong with Demi Runas

Demi Runas, LPGA golfer and one of Golf.com’s “Most Beautiful Women in Golf” joins us in this episode to share her experiences as a professional golfer and the changes that she has made in the gym that have made such an impact on the course. As a young, up and coming professional golfer, Demi Runas has had some amazing experiences on the golf course. In this episode of the 18STRONG Podcast, she shares some of the highs and lows , as well as some key lessons she has learned that have made her a stronger player. Demi is also known for her work ethic and impressive fitness training, which she attributes a lot of her success to. She is a great role model for all golfers, and has a great message when it comes to working smarter and harder in the gym. A message that she especially hopes to pass on to the female golfers interested in improving both their game and their health. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Demi Runas’s Background Grew up playing golf, starting around the age of 4 Finished 9th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list by closing in a tie for 2nd at the Symetra Tour Championship to move from 15th to 9th. Posted two second place results and three additional top 10 finishes Finished 3rd in the Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year Three-time Big West Player of the Year at UC Davis Won the 2013 Big West Women’s Golf Championship and guided team to four Big West conference titles Four time First Team All Big West Highlights from this Episode Demi tells us about her college coach and how she was/is such an inspiration to her She recounts her introduction to golf as a youngster and how she has loved the game since she was very young Demi recounts her experiences on the course including some of her most frustrating and most gratifying moments She tells an amazing story of the day she earned her LPGA card by shooting lights out and getting into a playoff in her last event of the

March 11, 2016 No Comments

78: Why quieting the mind is making some noise with Sam Goulden

Sam Goulden joins us in this episode to share his experiences as a coach and a player in this incredible game of golf. Sam has become one of the most sought after coaches in the game that is working with the Focus Band and delving more into the world of managing the mind and focus on the course,as opposed to the traditional model of instruction which is generally based more on technique and positional changes. In this episode, Sam and I talk about his travels and experiences from playing/teaching here in St. Louis, to selling all of his possessions and traveling to California to play, at times living in a tent and struggling to figure out his position in this game. Sam loves the game of golf and has found a new appreciation for playing and coaching using this new approach of mind over technique. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Sam Goulden’s Background Grew up in Washington, Missouri Skateboarder first, golfer second (at least used to be). Started coaching golfers, then his fucosed shifted more to playing competitively in 2006. Moved to California in 2009 to play on the mini tours. In 2012, decided to give it a run at PGA Tour qualifiers, sold all his possessions and took his show on the road, documenting the whole process with a group of other players, known as TourQuest Sam has been doing a lot more teaching and instruction as of recently, working very closely with the developers of the Focus Band (Graeme and Henry Boulton) and mental game/short game instructor Jason Goldsmith. Highlights from this Episode Sam gives us the highlights of his incredible journey from when he was a golfer in Washington Missouri to where he is now (which is currently The Royal Isabella in Puerto Rico!). We talk about how we met many years ago here in St. Louis when we were both much younger, more naive and probably more handsome. We discuss Sam’s experiences using the Focus Band in his instruction with students and how it has completely changed how he teaches. Sam shares his unique perspective on how the ability

March 4, 2016 No Comments

77: How a top amateur organizes golf around life with Skip Berkmeyer

Skip Berkmeyer joins us in this episode to share his experiences as a top amateur and mid-amateur golfer, both locally and nationally. Having won the Missouri Amateur title multiple times, played in 30 USGA events and won on the national level, Skip offers us some insights in to his philosophies around playing your best golf and how to balance that when you also have a full time career, wife, kids, etc. As a friend and one of the best players I know personally, it was great to chat with Skip and hear some of his stories from the past, get some advice from him about playing better golf, and learning more about what keeps him driven to play at such a high level when the stakes aren’t millions of dollars. Simply a love of the game and a desire to keep competing ! Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Skip Berkmeyer’s Background Has played in 30 USGA events Won the Missouri State Amateur title 3 times Player of the Year 11 times in Missouri 2009 Crump Cup Champion Grew up in St. Louis, MO Played multiple sports in high school: Baseball, Football, Golf Highlights from this Episode Skip shares some of his accomplishments as an amateur golfer on the local and national level Skip didn’t grow up playing only golf, he played just about every sport. We discuss the pros and cons to that back then and now. Ultimately, he believes that not focusing solely on golf, but having the freedom to play other sports, is likely why he still has such a love for the game. Skip explains why he still does it all. With a wife, kids, running a business, a radio show, life is busy, but he still has the drive to compete and win. We also talk about the trends in the game and the younger golfers coming up in regards to fitness and athleticism. Skip’s experience is that the younger players coming up are more athletic: bigger, stronger, and longer than ever. Skip emphasizes that if golf is not your full-time job, it takes a lot of organization to

February 26, 2016 No Comments

76: Our Trip to the 2016 PGA Show

Our trip to the 2016 PGA Show was a huge success. It was the first trip that Ryan, Tim, and I have taken together as 18STRONG, and and I have to say, we had a great time, met some great people, and were amazed at not only the size of the show, but the excitement that was in the air around golf in general. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Highlights from this Episode In this episode, I simply wanted to give you a glimpse of our experience at the PGA show. There are so many great people and connections that we made while we were there. If you have never been to the show before, I highly recommend going just to experience it once. You will find everything under the sun that is golf related: gadgets, equipment, simulators, golf carts, apparel, you name it. Here is a little collage of our trip. Yes, we had a very good time! Having Trouble Leaving a review from your iPhone or desktop? CLICK HERE to see how on your iPhone! CLICK HERE to see how on your desktop! <a

February 19, 2016 No Comments

75: The Calorie Myth with Jonathan Bailor

Jonathan Bailor, author of the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling book, “The Calorie Myth,” joins us in this episode to share his experience in the world of health and nutrition and to dispel the long believed, but rarely successful “Eat Less, Exercise More” philosophy on weight loss and health. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Jonathan Bailor’s Background Jonathan Bailor is an internationally recognized wellness expert who specializes in using modern science and technology to simplify health. He has collaborated with top scientists for more than 10 years to analyze and apply over 1,300 studies. His work has been endorsed by top doctors and scientists from Harvard Medical School, Johns’ Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic, and UCLA. Jonathan is the founder of SANESolution.com and serves as the CEO for the wellness technology company Yopti®. He authored the New York Times and USA Today bestselling book The Calorie Myth, Hosts a popular syndicated health radio show The SANE Show And regularly blogs on The Huffington Post. Additionally, Bailor has registered over 25 patents, spoken at Fortune 100 companies and TED conferences for over a decade, and served as a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft where he helped create Nike+ Kinect Training and XBox Fitness. Highlights from this Episode Jonathan starts out by answering the question “How did we get it so wrong for so long?” talking about the idea of calorie counting and the “Eat less, exercise more” philosophy Jonathan explains a few of the analogies in his book that really drive home some of the major concepts that are fundamentally different than what most of us have been taught, like: Our bodies are like a clogged drain Sugar is basically the new cigarette The SANE solution (which is his solution for helping us eat more and exercise less!) Jonathan helps us understand why the concept of preaching moderation, especially in recommended guidelines is so wrong. You wouldn’t suggest someone smoke in moderation, or simply smoke smaller cigarettes, would you?! Jonathan shares with us the keys to eating smarter, SANE foods, and why they create a much more efficient environment in your body that will help you burn more fat, feel much better,

February 12, 2016 No Comments

74: Brain Hacking: How to download the perfect swing with Sean Hutchison

Sean Hutchison joins us in this episode to share his experiences in coaching world champion swimmers, brain science, mirror neurons, and why he is now speaking to the who’s who about creating better golfers. Sean is the founder of IKKOS, a technology company that is changing the way we learn movement patterns. He shares with us how, in literally minutes, the brain has the ability to see something externally, process it as if it is our own body, and then perform that same movement better than before, using mirror neurons. “Back to the Future” kind of stuff, right! Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Sean Hutchison’s Background Former US Olympic swim coach Sean has trained some of the world’s top athletes, and is regarded as a coaches’ coach In addition, he is an experienced entrepreneur with a history of building outstanding teams, innovative products, and revolutionary systems for learning and training. Sean is the founder of Ikkos, an incredibly innovative piece of technology that allows you to tap into the power of your brain to create better movement in sport and function within minutes of work. Highlights from this Episode Sean divulges some of the most influential people in his life that have helped him get to where is is now We discuss his background as a swimmer, then swim coach and some of the decisions and passions that helped him become a world class coach Sean explains some of the common characteristics that he noticed in the world class and Olympic medal athletes that he trained. He shares why he hates the word “talent” We delve into brain science and how his passion for learning more has now become a new venture for him by creating the company IKKOS IKKOS is a combination of mobile technology and recently understood brain science that uses the premise of mirror neurons to help you literally download the movement patterns that you see on TV to your brain and body! CaddyShack or Happy Gilmore? CaddyShack- definitively! One or 2 of the Most Influential People, Books, or Experiences in Your Life? His family Walt Disney, DiVinci, Einstein, Hemingway

February 5, 2016 No Comments

73: The story behind the Orange Whip (and how to use it). . . with Jim Hackenberg

Jim Hackenberg, the creator of the Orange Whip Trainer join’s us in this episode to give us the story behind his invention which has been named the #1 Golf Product in the world. If you haven’t seen or heard about the Orange Whip Trainer, frankly, you must have been living under a rock. These things are everywhere, including in over 400 professional golfers bags across the globe. In today’s episode, Jim shares how he came up with the idea for the Orange Whip, where the name came from, and how to use it. Subscribe to the 18STRONG Podcast on iTunes and stitcher by clicking the button below: Jim Hackenberg and the Orange Whip’s Background Jim grew up in North Dakota, but didn’t start playing golf until the age of 12 or 13. Once he started playing he was hooked. Jim played at Arizona State for a couple of years (at the same time as ole “Lefty,” Phil Mickelson) before finishing his college career at Oregon State. He played on the mini tours for quite a few years before going into teaching. While he was teaching, he was asked to caddy for a friend on the PGA, which is when the idea for the Orange Whip came to him. Highlights from this Episode Jim tells us about the revelation he had about the golf swing and teaching his clients, and how this lead to the creation of the orange whip. After many tweaks and changes to the prototype, he finally figured out the right look and feel, and the Orange Whip was born. Jim and I discuss the importance of rhythm, tempo and balance in a golf swing. Jim walks us through his 3 main drills for the Orange Whip: Torso Twist Hinging Forearm Rotation Drill Full swing Drill Jim has learned quite a few new drills from other teachers that use the Orange Whip (including using the trainer as a high intensity or cardio alternative, you can see our video below . . .) Jim reveals where the name REALLY came from (HINT: it’s an 80’s movie with 2 guys in Black hats, Suits, and sunglasses. . .) We talk about all

January 22, 2016 No Comments