The Odyssey Podcast: Recent Episodes
Odyssey Strength
The guys sit down to discuss Adam's recent success in the ABS Series 17 Division 1 in Cologne!
The weight cut process, future plans, Conor's eventual competition in wraps and Article 14, there was plenty to discuss.
In this episode, Adam and Conor discuss one of the most requested topics - Meet Day Handling. Handling athletes on the day of competition is as much an art as it is science. The guys discuss all the ins and outs of good meet day handling in various scenarios. Handling your own lifters at national/ international competitions, competing for podium, medals, and records on the stage, or for handling friends at first time competitions. This is a deep and broad topic, give it a listen and let us know what you think!
In this episode, Adam and Conor look back on the two of the biggest powerlfiting spectacles the island of Ireland has ever seen; IrishPF Junior Nationals 2024 and the ABS series Clash of the Titans 2. Both of these competitions have increased the bar for tested and untested lifting respectively, and begs a question on "what's next?" as the bar continues to raise. The guys reflect on their experience participating in and attending the competitions, as well as looking forward in what's to come with their own training.
Brought to you by Apex Coaching Systems
In this episode the guys sat down with Ian Grant also known as Iron Ian to discuss his story and rise from prominent Irish pro wrestler to high level athlete in powerlifting, powerlifting coach and host of the Iron Mindset Podcast.
In this episode, the guys recap their first meet of the year. Having unofficially pulled out of the March open, Adam decided to hop on the platform on the day, with no preparation and smoked a total and dots PB.
Conor talks about having the best prep and competition of his life, stemming from a moment of realisation during the October open. The guys discuss upcoming competitions in the Irish powerlifting scene, and review the best week of powerlifting the world has ever seen.
This episode of the Odyssey Podcast was brought to you by Apex Coaching Systems.
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Adam and Conor are joined by fellow Odyssey Strength coach Clarice Tighe to recap the recent Masters Euros and the performances of the entire Irish team sent over to Malaga.
Clarice, Jen and Ben did a phenomenal job of guiding the contingent to some incredible performances, overcoming plenty of adversity and as always coming away with a huge amount of silverware to show for it.
It was an absolute pleasure to be able to sit down and discuss the highlights from this bunch of excellent competitors and representatives of the sport.
This episode of the Odyssey Podcast was brought to you by Apex Coaching Systems.
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In this episode, Adam and Conor talk about the ins and outs of peaking for competition.
They make the distinction between the generic phenomenon of peaking in developmental blocks, versus peaking to maximise performance on the competition day.
The guys discuss their upcoming competitions and their approach to peaking, managing fatigue, and designing a competition block in such a way that you can maximise your total on the day.
In this episode the guys sit down with Clarice Tighe, Odyssey coach. In her second appearance on the podcast, Clarice and the guys discuss the past 4 years of Clarice life in which she has been managing living with Multiple Sclerosis. Clarice details how the condition affected her day to day life, bringing her to her lowest points just before her competition in September 2019. A lot has happened since then, eventually leading to a triumphant return to the platform last weekend in Galway at the 2024 IrishPF January open.
In this episode, Adam and Conor talk about how to effectively review training blocks, pulling as much useful information from the good, the bad, and the ugly.The guys recap Conor's most recent training block ahead of the March open as an example, talking all the do's and dont's when building athlete's up for a big competition.
In this episode, Adam and Conor lay out their thoughts on plans for the new year. The guys discuss lifting goals, non-powerlifting activities, and more general lifestyle habits and goals.
In this episode, Adam and Conor review the year in Powerlifting.2023 was a transformative year in Irish Powerlifting with a jam packed national and international calendar. The year saw the return of many familiar faces and the emergence of a host of new contenders.This past year has set a high bar, and we've no doubt 2024 will only build on gains made across the country.Happy New Year!
In this episode Adam and Conor were joined by Odyssey Strength coach, Andrew Roe.
Andrew is a powerlifting coach, student and highly experienced competitor having competed 11 times in the last 6 years, 5 of which were international level events.
We discussed a wide range of topics including Andrew's final year as a Junior lifter and his upcoming competitions, his new podcast "Two Andrews One Barbell" with Andrew Blackwood and much more!
Let us know if you have any questions/queries/feedback.
In this episode, Adam and Conor sat down with the new Irish PF open head coach - Jack Thornton.The first guest to make their 2nd appearance on the show, the guys chat about the position of Ireland in the world of powerlifitng, and the potential impact changes on a domestic level may have on the team's standing. The guys discuss the role of national team standards ahead of an update, the role different international teams and competitions have on the calendar, building your own training space, and much more.
In this episode we run through a list of topics that we've changed our mind on over the years of powerlifting coaching from our approach to programming to the importance of hypertrophy for powerlifters and pain/injury.
As always, feel free to contact us with comments/questions/queries @odysseystrength on Instagram.
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n this episode, Conor sits down with Dr. David Nolan to discuss his research on sex-based differences in athletic development, sports training and performance. The discussion of Dr. Nolan's work sets a baseline for a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: Removing barriers to participation in sport, validity of menstrual cycle timing and female reproductive hormone levels as a variable in sports performance, nuance in coaching philosophy, and ultimately accomodating for athletes that experience incongruence with existing categorisation in sports.
In this episode, Adam and Conor take a look back on the IrishPF October Open. The last open competition of the year was one of the busiest for the team to date, managing new lifters competing for the first time, and seasoned pros looking to make a claim to the national stage. This weekend saw Conor return to the platform with the hopes of a big performance after his disappointing day on his last outing. The guys look back on the weekend and their favourite performances, both within the Odyssey team and the wider IrishPF. We look ahead to the 5 year birthday celebration of Odyssey Strength in Cork on the 11th of November, as well as the challenges and prospects of the last IrishPF competition of the year in just 3 short weeks - The Christmas Clash.Be sure to leave a review and share the episode, it really helps the show.
In this Q&A episode, Adam and Conor chat answer your questions on EPF Sub-Junior/ Junior European championships, the impact of cutting weight on strength and performance, USAPL Ireland, Powerlifting America and their social media faux-pas, and much more.Be sure to share on socials, and leave a review!
In this episode, Adam and Conor discuss the consequences of the establishment of USAPL Ireland. USAPL Ireland is set to make a splash in the Irish powerlifting scene, providing lifters with a second avenue to raw, tested powerlifting. The guys debate the implication of this development and the future it will have on the sport in Ireland. Listen in and give us your thoughts and predictions as to what will happen next.
In this episode, Adam and Conor look back on one of the best open competitions of the year in Phenom Gym, Cork. This was a huge day for the team with a lot of new lifters and the return of sesoned pros, least of all Adam himself. The guys pull apart the days that lead to the competition, and how Adam handled being in the hot seat and getting the most out of his lifting on the day. Also in this episode is the balance between being a coach and an athlete, coaching and competing in the same competition, coaching and handling loved ones, and much more. We end with a brief note on Conor's upcoming competition, his goals and inspirations moving forward, taking lessons from his Odyssey team mates and fellow coaches.
Adam and Conor sit down to discuss Conor's recent experiences coaching at Western Euros in Iceland. We touch on the performance of each Irish lifter, make some honorable mentions and discuss some of the Conor's wider experiences coaching at an international event.
Adam and Conor run through their thoughts on this year's Junior World Championships. Podium battles in each class, Irish lifters and some honorable mentions, with some incredibly stacked classes this years JR Worlds is sure to be one to watch!
In this episode, Adam and Conor go through the ins and outs of all things competing. From picking the right comp, structuring training and nutrition in the days, weeks, and months preceding, this is a crash course in getting the most out of your competition.
In this episode Adam and Conor discussed all things underrated or overrated in powerlifting. From stretching and coaching cues, social media to expensive kit, the guys break down what actually matters in what contexts, and where to focus your time and energy in the land of lifting.
In this episode we sat down and answered some questions posed to us in a recent Q&A. We addressed Conor's frequent no-scoping on Instagram at the outset and then delved into our thoughts on how younger athletes should approach the sport of powerlifting, the reality of sacrifices that could and/or should be made for success in powerlifting, at every age/ level, how can new lifters best prepare for an open meet, especially if they train in commercial gyms and more!
In this episode, Conor sat down with Richeal Ni Laoighre, a powerlifting coach and personal trainer with a fresh take on training. Richeal prides herself on a sustainable, individual based approach to health and fitness, and has a few hot takes on the current state of the fitness industry with regards to how coaches use and abuse their clients for clout and commercial gain. Richeal and Conor speak on this and also discuss sustainable performance from a micro to macro level, and how best to maximise health and performance in the long run
In this episode we sat down to answer the question:
How should you choose a coach?
We put the feelers out to instagram to get your thoughts, from which we pulled a lot of insight and great questions. We considered what you look for in a coach, your time and budget constraints, your experience and game day needs as a lifter.
In this episode Adam and Conor reviewed IPF worlds 2023 and what it meant for the future of classic powerlifting at home and abroad. The guys also answered some questions on labelling injuries, training the elderly, how their training is going, how to choose the right accessory work, and Conor's love for the Whoop watch.
In this episode Conor sat down with Milo Wolf, powerlifter/ natural bodybuilder, coach and PhD candidate with Solent University. Milo has special interest in the mechanisms behind muscle hypertrophy especially as it pertains to range of motion and hypertrophic outcomes.
Milo's work challenges recent consensus in the field and raises important questions on science communication, scientific epistemology, and the crossroads between evidence vs eminence.
In this episode we sit down and do our very best to outline from core philosophies to exercise selection specifics, our complete process surrounding formulating training for our athletes.
We hope this episode provides a flowchart for our listeners on employing some of the practices our coaching staff has developed surrounding programming, coaching and training in general over a combined 20+ years of coaching experience.
As Conor mentions towards the end of the episode, this resource is likely to leave more questions than they had at the outset, which exemplifies the open ended nature of creating a successful strength training process. As always we're available for questions and conversations at our Instagrams:
@odysseystrength
@adam_odyssey
@conor_odyssey
In this episode we sat down with Jayne Jones. Jayne studied dietetics in Trinity College and came into the healthcare field at the height of the pandemic, all while training to represent Ireland on the international stage.In this episode we talk about Jayne's experience working on the front lines of covid, as well as her powerlifting arc from a beginner in college, to national & international competitotor, and now coach under The Strength Guys. We also discuss her work as an employee of Eleiko, the future of powerlifting and outline some basic nutrition guidance that everyone listening can implement.
Without much preparation and to our great suprise, Conor survived his adventure race. In this episode we break down Conor's race, the lessons learned during training and on the day itself. We also talk abouy the complex relationship between novelty and specificity, the relief of removing artificial constraints on your performance, and the benefits to feeding your training imagination by being open to new experiences.
Cormac is a powerlifting coach under Odyssey Strength and in this episode we chat to Cormac about his background in powerlifting, how he got into coaching and how it ties into his 9-5 as a secondary school teacher. We also discussed the recent Sheffield Championships and what it means for the sport going forward.
In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Dawn Steacy.Dawn is a seasoned international level lifter, a very experienced national level referee, and the 2023 52kg open national champion.We spoke about Dawn's relatively late introduction to the sport and her journey towards representing Ireland internationally on multiple occasions. We also spoke on Dawn's experience as an athlete with T1 diabetes, the day to day management of the condition and how it has influenced (maybe even assisted) her training.
In this episode we discuss some highlights from Masters European Championships and the overall importance of promoting and encouraging masters lifting. A massive thank you to the IrishPF Masters lifters for being so enthusiastic, encouraging of each other and appreciative of the efforts of the coaching staff. Here's to another awesome year of Masters lifting!
In this episode we run through each session at this year's National Championships and outline some of our favourite moments and highlights from the event. Massive thanks you as always to all the volunteers involved, these competitions could not run without you.
We sat down with Alex and recorded a special live episode where we talked through Alex's background as a lifter, his transition into coaching on top of being a very successful lifter and delve into some of the most exciting classes in Nationals 2023.
In this episode we do our very best to unpack the biopsychosocial model of pain as it relates to your training and provide somewhat of a flowchart on what to do in the onset of training related aches or pains. This is a very difficult, multidimensional topic but we try our best to keep it pragmatic and useful. We would love to hear your thoughts.
Article referenced:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6067990/
In this episode we discuss the ins and outs of Conor's performance at the IrishPF February Open 2023. We both agreed that there could be alot of value in this episode particularly for more novice lifters as we have an open and honest debrief on training leading up to the competition and some of the mistakes made on comp day. We talk about how to deal with disappointment in your training and outline what really matters at the end of the day. We'd love to hear some of your thoughts!
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We took some questions and here are your answers! We discussed the utility and sometimes lack thereof in tracking training data, outline a beginner to intermediate series of advice(s) for coaches and discussed the nature of training plateaus and some tactics we typically use to overcome them.
We chat a little bit about our respective upcoming competitions, some thoughts surrounding our own training and training design generally. The often misplaced use of complexity in powerlifting and the fitness sphere and we FINALLY get around to having that "debate" on hypertrophy in powerlifting.... Disclaimer.. we pretty much agree.
In this episode we (attempt to) round up what was a fantastic year of powerlifting. The first full year of the sport that we've had since 2019 and it was a great one!
In this episode we discuss getting work done and the narrative surrounding "work" in the powerlifting community and the definition of work itself, discuss (or rather don't lol) identifying strength limiters and talk about how strong you need to be to compete at your first powerlifting competition.
In this episode we discuss the health benefits of powerlifting, how to utilize RPE as a beginner and outline what adaptation and progressive loading mean with respect to powerlifting, and of course go down many rabbit holes.
In this episode we outline some of our favourite moments and highlights of IrishPF Nationals 2022. Thank you again to all organizers and volunteers, it was an incredible one.
In this episode we discuss the variety of options you have after competition and what should guide your decision making. We also touch on our own recent competition experiences and go on many tangents
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Quick episode with some advice and guidelines on how to approach your first powerlifting competition.
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Ed King is a chartered physiotherapist and director/co-founder of MyBod - https://mybod.ie/
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Jack is a powerlifting coach under CityGym Limerick.
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Amelia Potter MSc is a sports performance psychologist who works with a variety of athletes including powerlifters.
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https://www.odysseystrength.ie/
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https://www.odysseystrength.ie/
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https://www.odysseystrength.ie/
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https://www.odysseystrength.ie/
https://www.instagram.com/adam_odyssey/
https://www.instagram.com/coach_ccampbell/
https://www.odysseystrength.ie/
https://www.instagram.com/adam_odyssey/
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