Back Squat Faults, Fixes, and Accessories That Build Strength
A back squat can look solid on the way down and still fall apart at the bottom. If you keep seeing buttwink, hips shooting up, or a squat that never feels as strong as it should, more random volume usually won't fix it. This breakdown follows the OPEX Behind the Design coaching session with Daniel Persson and Brandon Gallagher, where they walked through common squat faults, why they happen, and how to choose accessories with a purpose. The video is below, and the written takeaways start right after it.
CoachRx Q1 2026 Platform Update: What Shipped, What You Asked For, and What's Next
A packed CoachRx update for fitness coaches and gym owners. This quarters CoachRx Community Call, Car; Hardwick breaks down what shipped since December, what coaches have been asking for, and what's coming next. You'll get a clear look at major platform updates like the new conditioning library, client autonomy tools, workout builder improvements, faster loading speeds, and custom onboarding changes. He also shares what he's hearing most in one-on-one coach calls, including client acquisition, efficiency, customization, personalization, integrations, and where the business suite still needs to improve. Later in the call, they preview upcoming features like custom theming, client effort tracking, online indicators, and the next version of RxBot.
The See-Make-Say Content System for Fitness Coaches
The hardest part of content usually isn't talent. It's the moment I sit down to create and feel like every good idea has vanished. If you've felt that too, I want to make one thing clear. The blank page problem is rarely a creativity problem. In my experience, it's almost always a systems problem. Once I started treating content like part of my coaching practice, not a separate task, everything got easier. That's where the See-Make-Say loop comes in.
Your CoachRx Podcast Network Update Early April 2026
The CoachRx Podcast Network brought the heat over the last two weeks, from the mental game in CrossFit and prescribing effort in classes to why most coaches go broke (and what to do about it). Plus, we’ve got handstand walk programming, back squat periodization, the credibility gap between influencers and real coaches, and a rugby-to-business-owner story you need to hear. Here are 15 must-listen episodes.
Why Most Fitness Coaches Go Broke (And How to Fix It)
Most fitness coaches don't fail because they're bad at coaching. They fail because the math behind their business doesn't work. In this episode of Frameworks, I break down why great coaches burn out, why common coaching models cap your income, and how to fix it before you waste years grinding for too little. I walk through real numbers for group coaching, personal training, and individual design, then show how I think about pricing, retention, capacity, and profit. If you're a fitness coach trying to build a sustainable coaching business, this one matters. I also walk through a simple forecasting tool so you can stop guessing, run your numbers, and make better business decisions with clarity.
How to Build a Stronger Back Squat in Program Design
A big back squat is not only about leg strength. It can raise athletic potential, make daily movement feel easier, and give clients a kind of confidence that shows up far outside the gym.
The Credibility Gap: Why Fitness Coaches Need Influence, Not Followers
I don't think most professional fitness coaches want to become influencers. I do think they want to become influential. That difference matters more than ever because the fitness market is crowded, experienced, and skeptical. In a mature market, credibility creates visibility, and trust is the currency that converts. That's where real growth starts.
Bench Press Accessory Work That Fixes Common Faults
A stronger bench press rarely comes from benching more and hoping for the best. It usually comes from spotting where the lift breaks down, then picking accessory work that solves that exact problem. That was the big theme in this OPEX Fitness conversation with coaches Brandon Gallagher and Daniel Persson. They framed bench faults as useful feedback, not bad news, and showed how better exercise selection can turn a sticking point into a clear plan.
Content Minutes for Coaches: The Metric That Builds Trust and Clients
For years, I watched coaches chase follower count. Then the focus shifted to views. Both numbers can look exciting, but neither tells me what I actually need to know, which is whether the right person is moving closer to trusting me enough to buy.
Your CoachRx Podcast Network Update End Of March 2026
The CoachRx Podcast Network just delivered another powerful week of content, and this collection is packed with specialty programming, mindset mastery, and strategic business insights. From complete HYROX prep programming and handstand walking progressions to why specialization might be your best business move, here are 8 must-listen episodes.
Will AI Replace Fitness Coaches? The Real Answer
Fitness coaches keep asking me the same thing right now: will AI replace us? My answer is no, not if you're a great coach. But I also don't think we can ignore what's happening and hope our work stays the same.
How OPEX Coaches Build a Bench Press Program From 200 to 225 Pounds
A bigger bench usually looks simple from the outside. Add weight, train hard, repeat. In practice, it rarely works that cleanly. Bench press programming gets better when the goal is clear, the weak point is known, and every exercise has a job. In this live design breakdown, Brandon Gallagher and Daniel Persson walk through how they'd build a bench-focused program for an intermediate lifter trying to reach 225.
The Fitness Coaching Market Isn't Saturated, It's Mature
If you've been telling yourself the fitness coaching market is saturated, I want to challenge that. In this episode, I explain why the market isn't saturated, it's mature, and why that shift changes everything about how I think about marketing, positioning, trust, and long-term growth as a coach. I break down the difference between an emerging market and a mature one, why generic content gets ignored, and what actually helps fitness coaches stand out now. I also share why credibility matters more than visibility, why consistency becomes a real advantage, and how serious clients think in a mature market. If you're a fitness coach, online coach, or individual design coach trying to grow without chasing every trend, this episode will help you get clear on what to build next.
What OPEX Coaches Changed Their Minds About in Program Design
Good coaching isn't about defending old opinions forever. It's about noticing what actually works, what wastes time, and what helps clients make steady progress. In this conversation, OPEX coaches Brandon Gallagher and Daniel Persson unpack several ideas they once believed strongly, then explain why their thinking changed.
Your CoachRx Podcast Network Update Early March
The CoachRx Podcast Network just delivered another powerful week of content, and this collection is packed with specialty programming, mindset mastery, and strategic business insights. From complete HYROX prep programming and handstand walking progressions to why specialization might be your best business move, here are 8 must-listen episodes.
Why Waiting Is the Most Expensive Decision a Coach Can Make
If a client told me, "I'm not ready to start yet. I want to get in better shape first," I wouldn't let them sit in that loop. I'd tell them the same thing you'd tell them: there's no perfect moment, and the preparation is the training. So I need to ask the question that stings a little: Why are you waiting to build your marketing, content, and personal brand? In this post, I'm breaking down five reasons starting now matters more than being ready, and what's actually at stake if you keep delaying.
Why Specializing Makes You a Better Coach (And Gets You Better Clients)
If you feel like you're doing all the right things but your message still isn't landing, you're not alone. A lot of coaches are "lost in this whole like marketing world," and the default answer becomes, "I coach everyone." In a crowded market, that approach makes it harder to coach well, harder to explain what you do, and harder for the right clients to trust you.
Specialization fixes that, not as a marketing trick, but as a coaching decision that improves your reps, your results, and your clarity. Carl Hardwick and Kandace Dickson (host of the Marketing for Fitness Coaches podcast) break it down from both angles, coaching and marketing, with a few practical frameworks you can use right away.
Daniel Persson's 240 kg Deadlift Update on the Road to 250 kg (Behind the Design)
In this Behind the Design session, Daniel Persson and Brandon Gallagher share a real update from Daniel's push toward a 250 kg deadlift. The headline is clear: after about four months of focused work, Daniel pulled 240 kg for a heavy single, moving his goal from "someday" into "close enough to taste."
Why You Need to Start Creating Content Now (Before AI Floods the Feed)
Most coaches don't need more marketing ideas, they need the right order. In this episode, I share the 8-step marketing roadmap I teach inside the OPEX Method Mentorship so you can stop guessing, build a system that fits you, and create content that actually turns into clients. This is for fitness coaches who feel scattered, keep trying random tactics, and want a clear path from messaging, to content, to an offer that sells, to a client acquisition engine you can run for the long game.
Men Over 40 Don't Need Complexity, They Need Clarity in Training
Coaching men over 40 can get noisy fast. Labs, wearables, "optimal" everything, and a dozen opinions about what matters most. I'm not against any of that, but most guys in this season don't need more inputs. They need a clear plan they can repeat, recover from, and improve with.